CECELIA
MCKINLEY
Contralto
ABOUT CECELIA
Noted for her “plush, glowing tones, and lyrical poise”, this season contralto Cecelia McKinley embarks on her first season following her time as a Cafritz Young Artist with the Washington National Opera (Arts and Culture Texas). Her 2024-2025 season includes a debut with INSeries Opera in their season opener, Blitzstein’s Cradle Will Rock as Mrs. Mister and Ella, as well as an exciting return to her home company as a soloist for WNO’s “Gods & Mortals: A Celebration of Wagner” concert.
During her tenure as a Cafritz Artist, Cecelia made her Kennedy Center debut as Zweite Magde in Strauss’ Elektra. Her time as a young artist with the company also included performances of Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette, Arsace in Partenope, Mastrilla in Songbird (La Perichole). A lover of new music and of collaboration with living composers, through WNO’s American Opera Initiative Cecelia sang in three workshops and world premiers of critically-acclaimed new works: Bubbie and the Demon (2023), What the Spirits Show (2023), and FOREVER (2024)–for which she was hailed for her “scene-stealing tardigrade” (Twin Cities Arts Reader).
Cecelia has also been engaged by Ars Lyrica Houston as Fileno in Handel’s comic cantata, Clori, Tirsi, e Fileno. the Roanoke Symphony as a soloist in both Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9., the Great Falls Philharmonic as the soloist in Elgar’s Sea Pictures, and the University of Lynchburg as a recitalist and masterclass technician. Perfectly at home in concert repertoire, Cecelia has also performed as the alto soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2.
Summer Opera credits include the Merola Opera Program in San Francisco, where she sang selections of Handel and Rossini in the program’s Schwabacher Summer Concert and the Merola Grand Finale. Cecelia is also an alumna of Dolora Zajick’s Institute for Young Dramatic Voices and the Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artist Program, where she sang the role of Mrs. Ott in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah.
Newly arriving on competition scene, Cecelia recently advanced to the semifinals in the Hans Gabor Belvedere International Opera Competition in Latvia.
FEATURED PERFORMANCES
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
november 4 - 18
2023 - Roméo et Juliette, Charles Gounod (Gertrude)
Star-crossed lovers risk it all in Gounod’s passionate tragedy, featuring soaring music and exquisite duets. Featuring the talented Cafritz Young Artists taking on major roles for one night only (Nov. 17)!
December 8 - 10
2023 - The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me, Jeanine (Tesori)
The hit family opera returns for the holidays, based on the award-winning children’s book and featuring music from Tony®-winning composer Jeanine Tesori.
December 13
2023 - Handel Messiah: Part One , “Christmas” and “Hallelujah” Chorus
Roanoake Symphony OrchestraChorus & RSO Virtuosi
David Stewart Wiley, conductor