Vanessa Naghdi is a young Persian-American soprano originally from the Washington, D.C. area. She specializes in operatic, concert, song, and musical theater repertoire. This season, Ms. Naghdi makes her international debut as Cleopatra with Opéra Queens in Montréal. She also covers Arsinoë in the world premiere of Cleopatra Built with the company. Ms. Naghdi additionally performs excerpts from the new opera Zal & the Phoenix by Shohreh Shakoory with Catalyst New Music this season. Last season, she covered the role of Marie in La fille du régiment with St. Petersburg Opera Company. Past seasons saw her perform the role of Flora in La Traviata with MassOpera. Ms. Naghdi was also the Soprano Soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Newburyport Choral Society, and competed as a finalist in Opera Connecticut’s American Opera Idol Competition. Upcoming engagements include singing Exsultate, jubilate with Salem Philharmonic Orchestra, with Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, and a curated program entitled My Lifelong Love of Song.

Ms. Naghdi was recently an Artist in Residence with Opera Colorado. While in Denver, she reprised her role of Nannetta in Falstaff, created the role of Mrs. Soep in the world premiere of the opera Steal a Pencil for Me, performed the roles of Adina in The Elixir of Love and Clorinda in Cinderella (touring productions), and covered the role of Musetta in La bohème with the company. Recently, Ms. Naghdi returned to Arizona Opera and performed the roles of Pamina and 1st Lady in The Mini-Magic Flute (touring production). She has also portrayed Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica and Solo Angel in Die Jungfrau von Orléans with the Mittelsächsisches Theater and Philharmonic. As an experienced concert artist, Ms. Naghdi has been the Soprano Soloist in excerpts from Messiah, in Rutter's Magnificat, and in Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. More information: www.vanessanaghdi.com