Linda Collazo, mezzo-soprano
About
Audiences throughout the U.S. have heard Bronx-born Ecuadorian and Puerto-Rican Mezzo-Soprano Linda Collazo at venues including Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, Lincoln Center, the United Palace Theater, and Repertorio Español, as well as in theaters throughout Italy. Described as having a voice that is “elastic and luxurious…” (Ars Raving Mad), Linda's 2022-23 season has included debuting as an alto soloist in Dan Forrest's Jubilate Deo at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, debuting as a soloist at Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium with Choirs of America, debuting as Carmen in La Tragedie de Carmen with Camerata New Jersey, singing Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with SAS Performing Arts Company; winning a grant and encouragement award from the Gerda Lissner Foundation Operetta & Zarzuela and Art Song Division in 2022; being a full scholarship Vocal Fellow and a Renée Fleming Artist Alternate at the Aspen Music Festival, where she covered Meg Page in Falstaff with Bryn Terfel in the title role and sung for the likes of Nico Muhly and Patrick Summers in masterclass settings; and being a Resident Artist with Opera Naples and debuting the roles of Ruth in Pirates of Penzance, Sky in Stop Bully, Dolores Dolores/Diana Dream in On The Town with Sherrill Milnes as narrator, and Old Alyce in Glory Denied. Upcoming engagements include being a Studio Artist with Opera Orlando where she will sing as Shepherd Boy in Puccini's Tosca, Frida in Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, Frida (Cover) in Rodriguez's Frida, Wood Sprite #2 in Dvorak's Rusalka, Alisa in Donizetti's Lucia di Lemmermoor, and Stepmother in Glass' The Juniper Tree. Linda will also be singing as a featured soloist at Symphony Space for Selected Shorts: Ken Burns Presents Willa Cather's America.
Her other roles include Armelinda in Viardot's Cendrillon with City Lyric Opera, Lola (cover) in Cavalleria Rusticana with New Camerata Opera, Orlofsky (cover) in Die Fledermaus with Martina Arroyo's Prelude to Performance, Solo Handmaiden in Puccini's Turandot with Sarasota Opera, María Magdalena in Grullon's El Caminante de Nazaret with the Mimesis Ensemble, Vera Boronel and the Café Singer in Menotti's The Consul with Encompass New Opera Theater, 3rd Spirit in The Magic Flute and Hansel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel with the New York Lyric Opera Theater, Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, Cenerentola in La Cenerentola, and La Cesca and Zita in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.
In addition to her operatic career, Ms. Collazo has showcased her vocal versatility in her concert, recital, and educational outreach work. She has performed as a soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Alma Dei Creatoris and Requiem, Bernstein’s Songfest and Symphony no. 1: Jeremiah, Yarmolinsky's The Constitution, Handel’s Messiah, and several new music chamber works with various orchestras and ensembles throughout New York City including the Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra, The Grace Chorale, BronX BandA, Ars Musica Chorale, and Bargemusic. Linda has also performed in recitals and galas showcasing Spanish opera, zarzuela, art song, popular song, and baroque music with the Mimesis Ensemble, The Vertical Player Repertory Theater and was highlighted on the Metropolitan Opera Guild's social media singing Ecuadorian art song for Hispanic Heritage Month in 2021. Additional venues include performing as a soloist at BAM Fisher with the Brooklyn Metro Chamber Orchestra, and Times Square’s Anita’s Way with the New Camerata Opera. Virtually, Ms. Collazo has performed concerts for Princeton University, Queens College, and The Christman Opera Company throughout the course of the 2020 pandemic.
Her other awards include an encouragement award from the Connecticut and New York Districts of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and first place winner in the Bronx Arts Ensemble and Woodmere Competitions. Linda was also a finalist in the Grand Concours Competition, SAS Performing Arts Competition, the Roberto DeSimone Memorial Aria Competition, Canto Latino, and a semi-finalist in the Camerata Bardi International Vocal Competition.
Linda received her Bachelor of Music from The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Ms. Collazo was a full scholarship CUNY Macaulay Honors Scholar, Richard and Mica Hadar Foundation Scholar, and the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Jane and Paul Smaldone Memorial Scholarship, the Helene B. Giudice Award, the Erik Horlick Memorial Award, and The Claire Bartels Freshman Award.
In her spare time, Ms. Collazo enjoys giving back to her community in the South Bronx by teaching voice and piano in her private studio both virtually and in-person. She is a Teaching Artist at The Point C.D.C. in the Bronx, where she is working to reinstate their free music education program for Bronx youth. Finally, Linda is a frequent guest on BronxNet TV where she discusses the importance of music education and the impact free music education has had on her becoming an opera singer today.