page_title: List of African-American women in classical music
section_title: Opera singers
hierarchical_section_title: List of African-American women in classical music / Opera singers
caption_attribution_description: English: Soprano Harolyn Blackwell performs in the East Room of the White House during a dinner in honor of The Dance Theatre of Harlem Monday. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush are in attendance.
context_page_description: This is a list of African-American women in classical music. African-American women who are notable in various fields of classical music are listed here.
context_section_description: Adele Addison (born 1925), operatic soprano also performing in recitals and concerts
  Roberta Alexander (born 1949), international operatic soprano
  Betty Allen (1927–2009), mezzo-soprano who performed in concerts and operas from the 1950s and later served as an educator
  Marian Anderson (1897–1993), singer of classical music and spirituals, including opera
  Martina Arroyo (born 1936), major international operatic soprano
  Kathleen Battle (born 1948), operatic soprano and concert performer
  Harolyn Blackwell (born 1955), lyric coloratura soprano who has performed in many of the world's leading opera houses
  Angel Blue (1984), operatic soprano and classical crossover artist
  Angela Brown (born 1963), operatic soprano admired for performances of Verdi heroines
  Débria Brown (1936–2001), operatic mezzo-soprano and educator
  Janai Brugger (born 1983), operatic soprano performing in leading roles in several opera companies
  Hazel Joan Bryant (1939–1983), actress, opera singer, director and playwright
  Grace Bumbry (born 1937), leading mezzo-soprano of her generation
  Karla Burns (born 1954), operatic mezzo-soprano and actress
  Alyson Cambridge (fl. 2000s), operatic soprano, classical and jazz concert singer and actress
  Cynthia Clarey (born 1949), operatic soprano and mezzo-soprano and classical concert performer
  Barbara Smith Conrad (1937–2017), operatic mezzo-soprano and educator
  Michèle Crider (born 1959), international lirico spinto soprano appearing in leading opera houses
  Clamma Dale (born 1948), international operatic soprano and concert performer acclaimed for her portrayal of Bess
  Billie Lynn Daniel (fl. 1960s), operatic soprano best known for performing Clara in Porgy and Bess
  Ellabelle Davis (1907–1960), operatic soprano remembered for performing Aida in the 1940s
  Gloria Davy (1931–2012), operatic soprano and concert singer who settled in Switzerland
  Mary Cardwell Dawson (1894–1962), musician, educator and founding director of the National Negro Opera Company
  Mattiwilda Dobbs (1925–2015), coloratura soprano, early international African-American performer
  Ruby Elzy (1908–1943), pioneering short-lived African-American operatic soprano
  Lillian Evanti (1890–1967), classical concert performer and opera singer who gained fame in France
  Maria Ewing (born 1950), operatic soprano and mezzo-soprano, classical and jazz concert performer
  Cassandra Extavour (fl. 2000s), Canadian geneticist and classical soprano singer
  Zelma Watson George (1903–1994), philanthropist, musician and opera singer
  Gail Varina Gilmore (born 1950), gospel and mezzo-soprano opera singer, known for performing Kundry in Wagner's Parsifal
  Denyce Graves (born 1964), operatic mezzo-soprano known for performing the title roles in Carmen and Samson and Delilah
  Elizabeth Greenfield (c. 1820–1876), best known African-American concert singer of her times, also conductor and educator
  Reri Grist (born 1932), major international coloratura soprano and concert performer
  Cynthia Haymon (born 1958), soprano who has performed in opera and modern classical works
  Barbara Hendricks (born 1948), operatic soprano and concert singer who has settled in Switzerland
  Caterina Jarboro (1898–1986), pioneering African-American opera singer who performed the title role in Aida in 1933
  Betty Jones (born 1930), operatic spinto soprano who performed in the 1970s
  Isola Jones (born 1949), mezzo-soprano opera singer and educator
  Sissieretta Jones (c.1869–1933), successful classical soprano who performed for American presidents and the British royal family
  Jonita Lattimore (fl. 1990s), soprano and educator who has performed in operatic roles and oratorio engagements
  Marquita Lister (born 1961), operatic soprano known for performing Bess in Porgy and Bess as well as Aida and Salome
  Marvis Martin (born 1956), operatic soprano best known for her concert performances and recitals
  Myra Merritt (fl. 1980s), operatic soprano and educator
  Abbie Mitchell (1884–1960), operatic soprano who performed Clara in the première of Porgy and Bess
  Latonia Moore (born 1979), classical soprano who has performed with leading op
caption: Harolyn Blackwell performs in the East Room of the White House
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