Haitian-American soprano Melissa Joseph, praised for her vibrant stage presence, wowed audiences with her debut as Musetta in La Bohème at Opera Philadelphia, earning acclaim from The Washington Post. In 2023, she was a Steans Singer Fellow at Ravinia Steans Music Institute and returned to Opera Theatre of St. Louis (OTSL) as a Gerdine Young Artist, covering the lead in Treemonisha and performing in Susannah. Joseph debuted at OTSL as Lily in Tobias Picker’s Awakenings and portrayed Ruth and Micaëla in other productions. A graduate of Georgia State University, her roles included Donna Anna, Micaëla, and Pamina. In Boston, she debuted with White Snakes Projects, Mass Opera, and others. During the pandemic, she remained active in virtual recitals and masterclasses, notably with Fort Worth Opera.
Joseph’s competition accolades include the Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition grand finals, an encouragement award from Gerda Lissner International Voice Competition, and recognition in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She also won the Hibbet-Savoca award from the Tri-Cities Opera, leading to a Resident Artist position.
Offstage, Joseph is dedicated to college access work, assisting over 10,000 students in the metro-Boston area with financial aid applications.
