Ilah Raleigh’s early talent for languages and passion for other cultures propelled her into a career in opera and recital. Upon completing her graduate studies, she originally performed as a mezzo-soprano with several opera companies. She sang in the ensembles of Washington National Opera and Wolf Trap Opera, and performed main stage roles with Orlando Opera, Vero Beach Opera, Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia, and Ignoti dei Opera. During 2007-09, she made the challenging, and ultimately rewarding, transition to lyric soprano.

Ms. Raleigh explains: “This change in Fach, or vocal type, affects the tessitura and repertoire that one sings; it even influences a person’s identity. It has radically transformed how I view myself as an artist.”

The move to soprano has led to greater demand for Ms. Raleigh’s talents as a performer. Earlier in October 2009, she performed in “A New York Night of Opera,” a Miami concert that promoted emerging opera talent. She will open 2010 performing a January benefit recital with Christine Barron, clarinet, and Holly Small, piano, on behalf of Winter Park Musicale, raising money for their scholarship fund. In February 2010, the trio will perform again for a Rollins College Faculty Recital in Winter Park, Florida. On behalf of Mu Phi Epsilon, Ms. Raleigh will present a March 2010 recital to raise funds to benefit the Minneapolis and St. Paul Public School music programs.

Ms. Raleigh has delighted audiences of all ages in concert and opera performances throughout Florida with her engaging stage presence and vocal gifts. She has appeared with the Orlando Philharmonic, Orlando Opera Guild, the Daytona Symphony Guild, and the Mt. Dora Yacht Club. She has also been a featured performer with the Monticello Opera House, Chipola College Artist Series, Celebration Concert Series, and the Orange County Public Library Concert Series.

In recital, Ms. Raleigh is a passionate supporter of African-American and Spanish composers. She has performed several recitals in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, appearing on the Academy of Art Museum’s Music at Noon Series, the An die Musik Live! Concert Series, and Peabody Conservatory’s Thursday Noon Recital Series. For over ten years, she has organized and presented community recitals in various Twin Cities venues, including the Macalester Plymouth United Church, the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church Mindekirken, Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church and the Plymouth Congregational Church.

“While listening to Kiri te Kanawa’s gorgeous rendition of Puccini’s ‘O mio babbino caro’ as a teenager,” recalls soprano Ilah Raleigh, “I first began to dream of a career in opera. Little did I know that I would meet so many amazing people, travel so extensively, or have so many adventures, simply by chasing my dreams!”

Though born and raised in the heartland of Minnesota, Ms. Raleigh’s vocal studies have led her to live and travel throughout the U.S. and Western Europe, including a two-year stint in Milan, Italy. She now calls Winter Park, Florida her home – an ideal place for any soprano attempting to escape the harsh winters of the Midwest! Ms. Raleigh holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in Italian Studies (BA) from the University of Minnesota. She currently studies with Manny Pérez in Miami, Florida.