Joy Meade

Soprano

Joy Meade has appeared frequently in opera, oratorio and concert productions. Her operatic appearances have included OperaCréole, Opera Louisiane, Atlantic Coast Opera Festival, Lyric Opera of Baltimore, Annapolis Opera, Central Florida Lyric Opera, Waco Lyric Opera, Waco Civic Theater, Opera Vivente, Young Victorian Opera Theater, and Opera AACC.

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Karyl Charna Lynn of Opera Now described Joy’s voice as a “strong, shimmering voice that gave subtle sparkle to her character” for her portrayal of the role of Donna Anna in Opera Vivente’s production of Don Giovanni. Other roles to her credit include Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Magic Flute, Adina in L’Elisir d’amore, Mařenka in The Bartered Bride, Nedda in I Pagliacci, Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow, Sister Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. For her portrayal of Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème, Mary Johnson of the Baltimore Sun described Joy as “captivating in her heartfelt Mi chiamano Mimì.”

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As a resident artist with Central Florida Lyric Opera during the 2003/2004 season, Joy had the honor of coaching and performing the role of Micaëla in Carmen under the stage direction of legendary soprano Licia Albanese. Carol Cohen of The Villages News described Joy’s performance of Micaëla as “radiant, mature, and powerful.”

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A native of Annapolis, Maryland, Joy completed studies in Voice Performance at Towson University and Baylor University. While completing graduate work at Baylor University, Joy appeared with Waco Lyric Opera and Waco Symphony Orchestra. Joy’s numerous concert appearances have included the Symphony Chorus New Orleans, Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, the York Symphony Orchestra, Artscape in Baltimore, the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida, the United States Naval Academy Chapel, the Three Arts Club of Baltimore, the Baltimore Opera Guild, the Bach Concert Series, St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, and the Salado Music Festival in Salado, Texas. Oratorio works to her credit include Bach’s Magnificat, Christmas Oratorio and Coffee Cantata; Poulenc’s Gloria; Fauré’s Requiem; Mozart’s Requiem; Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem; Rutter’s Gloria; Handel’s Messiah; and Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio.

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In addition to performing Joy has maintained an active vocal studio, teaching for nearly fifteen years at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, MD. Joy served on the faculty at Xavier University in New Orleans, and she currently teaches privately. Her students have continued their studies at some of the most prestigious universities and conservatories including The Peabody Conservatory, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York, SUNY Crane School of Music, Loyola University New Orleans, and LSU. Joy’s students have also won scholarships, grants and competitions including National Association of Teachers of Singers awards and the Donald W. Wood, Sr. Vocal Competition.

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In addition to performing and teaching, Joy is also a certified yoga instructor and enjoys drawing from her yoga practice to enhance the study of music, incorporating movement, stretching and breathing to free musicality and mindfulness exercises to sustain attention and deepen the connection to the music. She has offered her workshop “Movement and Mindfulness for the Musician” at vocal intensives, master classes, musical theater workshops and universities.