On March 9, Voices of Ascension will perform Maurice Duruflé’s stunning Requiem, and we are thrilled to feature mezzo-soprano and native New Yorker Lucia Bradford as a soloist on the program! Lucia's career spans the worlds of classical music, gospel, and jazz, having performed with New York City Opera, the American Spirituals Ensemble, Opera Noire, and the Orchestra at St. Luke's, among others. We had a chance to speak with Lucia about her career and the songs she loves to sing.

What has been your favorite role to perform? What makes it your favorite?
Singing Carmen in La Tragedie de Carmen. It was amazing! I love how free, feisty, sexy, smart and mysterious she is. She is so many things many women would want to be but don’t have the guts to be. She brought a lot out of me - vocally, physically and mentally.

What is an aria or song you’ve never performed in public before but would like to? Why?
Joan of Arc’s aria from Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orleans. She is a remarkable woman and Tchaikovsky’s music is always so beautiful!

What is your routine like before a performance?
Lots of rest and water the night before. On the morning of the performance I warm up the vocal cords and my body to get ready for the day. Then throughout the day I make sure I’m moving, getting the body energized and drinking water. Then I warm up again, singing a little bit of what I will be performing for the evening. Right before I go on I say a prayer and I’m ready to go!

You also sing gospel and jazz. How does singing in those styles compare to singing opera?
I will say this. Singing opera helps me remember that I can use my technique to hit notes and be healthy singing jazz and gospel. Singing jazz and gospel reminds me to be freer in my classical singing. Freer meaning not just singing technically but also connecting to the character and/or the meaning of the piece. When I sing gospel there is a sense and a feeling of “home” . I grew up in the church. When I started my musical journey into opera and jazz I had to learn those genres, styles, and techniques. Over time I couldn’t choose between the three. I decided I was a singer. A singer who sings different genres. My goal is always to sing them authentically and be stylistically correct.

Join us on March 9 at 7:30 PM at the Church of the Ascension to see Lucia in concert with Voices of Ascension. Click the button below to purchase tickets.

BURLEIGH (arr. T. Cunningham) “Were You There”

Lucia Bradford, mezzo-soprano
Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Dr. Thomas Cunningham

The singer in this performance is represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.