Lauren Rodriguez

• First prize Charleston International Music Competition: Classical Music 2024
• Second prize Charleston International Music Competition: Winter Music 2024
• Outstanding Vocal soloist New Mexico Music Educators 2016

Lauren Rodriguez, is a mezzo-soprano born in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance, from the university of New Mexico. She graduated at the top of her class, and was the only graduate to earn a B.M. During her time at UNM she performed with the music department’s opera theater. She had a role as “Cis'' in Albert Herring composed by Benjamin Britten, as well as the third lady in the magic flute. She offers a unique and distinctive voice to the opera scene. During her high school years, she was chosen to participate in the young voices of the Santa Fe Opera.This educational program is audition based, and is available to teens aged 14-18. There are only 15 spots available per year. Through the Santa Fe opera, Lauren received voice lessons, coaching, participated in masterclasses, and performed throughout New Mexico. She was in the program for 3 years. Throughout her high school career, she sang in the New Mexico Allstate choir competition, four years in a row. She received several superior ratings during solo competitions. In 2016 she earned the “most promising singer” in her district, or the “outstanding vocalist” award.

In the summer of 2016 Lauren was selected to travel to Florence Italy to spend one month studying with the bel canto institute. She spent her summer in Tuscany, while studying the art form of classical singing. Her voice coach was Robert Morrison, who in his career, worked with Luciano Pavarotti. He told her that her voice was extraordinary at the young age of 17. During her time in Italy, Lauren performed for the people of Florence with her colleagues.

In October of 2017, Lauren was asked to join the professional opera company; Opera south west. She participated in her first professional opera, which was a production of William Tell composed by Rossini. She was within the chorus as a “peasant woman.”

She performed with apprentices from around the country. As Sharin Apostolou MacPherson said, one of the leads in the production ,”she has a beautiful voice.” In January 2024 she was in a production of “before night falls,” singing in the chorus with opera southwest. In May of 2024, with the same opera company, she sang in the women's chorus for a Spanish production of Carmen. She received second prize in the international Charleston music competition in the 2024 winter music competition, as well as first place in the 2024 classical music category.