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The American soprano, Jessica Adkins, obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia (2014), where she studied with Brooke Evers Moore and Lisa Turchi; and her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma (2017), where she studied with Dr. Barbara DeMaio. She also participated in Manhattan Summer Voice Festival of at Manhattan School of Music, New York (2013), American Singers' Opera Project at Wake Forest University, North Carolina (2014); CCM Opera Studio Summer Program at CCM-University of Cincinnati (2014); Red River Lyric Opera Summer Festival at Midwestern State University, Texas (2017, 2018); Lady Parts Opera Workshop at Potomac Vocal Institute (2019). She most recently studied with Leah Crocetto in Washington, D. C.
Jessica Adkins' most notable roles of past seasons include Madame Herz in W.A. Mozart’s The Impresario (UCO, November 2016), the title role in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience (Cimarron Opera, July 2016), Romilda in George Frideric Handel’s Serse (UCO, March 2016), Amelia in Menotti’s Amelia Goes to the Ball (UCO, November 2015), Papagena in W.A. Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (American Singers’ Opera Project, June 2014), Fortuna in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea (Manhattan Summer Voice Festival, June 2013), and Rosalinda in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (Shepherd University, January 2013).
The highlight of Jessica Adkins' 2017-2018 season was her role debut of Cleopatra in G.F. Handel’s Giulio Cesare at Red River Lyric Opera. Other role debuts include Laurie in Copland’s The Tender Land at the University of Central Oklahoma (April 2017) and Morgana in G.F. Handel’s Alcina at Red River Lyric Opera (July 2017). In January 2017, she was the winner of the UCO Concerto Competition and was featured in concert with the UCO Symphony Orchestra performing Samuel Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 (April 2017). She made her professional opera chorus debuts in performances of Verdi’s La Traviata with Painted Sky Opera (January 2017), Charles Gounod’s Faust with Tulsa Opera (October 2017), and Puccini’s Turandot with Tulsa Opera (April 2018). Additionally, she performed with Oklahoma City’s chapter of Opera on Tap throughout the 2017-2018 season.
Jessica Adkins' 2018-2019 season began with her company debut with Bel Cantanti Opera in their November production of Georges Bizet's Les pêcheurs de perles as a member of the ensemble. She then appeared in concert with Sopranessence in their December holiday program entitled "Carols of the World." In February, she made her role debut as Königin der Nacht in W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with Potomac Vocal Institute's "Lady Parts" Opera Workshop in Washington D. C. In March, she made her company debut with Annapolis Opera in their production of G. Bizet's Carmen as a member of the opera chorus.
Jessica Adkins' 2019-2020 season also included appearances in Shakespeare Opera Theatre's summer opera scenes concert "Vive la France!", and with Bel Cantanti Opera's "Muses Sing!" program, performing the Lieder of Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel with chamber orchestra. She then performed with Sopranessence in their Fall concert "Let's Start at the Very Beginning...Root to Blossom" and their holiday concert "'Twas the Night...Holiday Sentiment." She also performed with Annapolis Opera as a member of the opera chorus in their production of Puccini's Tosca.
The highlight of Jessica Adkins' 2019-2020 season was her role debut as Ophelia in Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas with Shakespeare Opera Theatre in a hybrid production that incorporated spoken dialogue from the original Shakespeare play. She was scheduled to sing Second Lady and cover Queen of the Night in W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte as a Festival Artist with the Utah Festival of Opera and Musical Theatre during the summer 2020 season, but unfortunately performances were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the COVID pandemic began, Jessica Adkins has continued performing virtually and creating art. On Halloween, she was awarded the "Zombie Diva" Video Curation Prize in Opera MODO's Detroit Aria Competition: COVID Edition 2020. She has been scheduled to sing with Sopranessence in their 2020-2021 concert season "Faux Real - A Virtual Season," including premieres of virtual releases in October, December, February, and May. She is also credited as an Audio Editor for the project.
Jessica Adkins' concert soloist appearances of past seasons include Schubert’s Mass in C Major and Mass in G Major, W.A. Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Missa Brevis in C Major (All Souls’ Episcopal Church OKC, 2016-2018), Orff’s Carmina Burana (UCO, October 2016), Vivaldi’s Gloria (Hagerstown Choral Arts, December 2014), and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and G.F. Handel’s Coronation Anthems (Shepherd University, November 2013). She also performed in numerous concerts in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. with the fabulous divas of Sopranessence during their 2014-2015 concert season.
Jessica Adkins now resides in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and two chihuahuas. |
