Monique McDonald's dynamic stage presence and stunning vocal gifts have established her as one of the most beloved sopranos of our time. Her powerful and moving performances have captivated audiences and critics alike, drawing praise from The New York Times, The LA Times, and Opera News among others. She is known as one of the prominent Verdi Sopranos of her generation.

After receiving high praise for her debut performance in the title role of Tosca with Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Italy, McDonald began her foray into the Verdi heronies, such as Aida, Leonora in Il Trovatore, Elisabetta in Don Carlo, and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. She made her New York City Opera debut in the role of Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni and Seattle Opera debut in the title role of Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos.

Ms. McDonald can be heard as the soprano soloist in the Grammy-nominated recording of Ned Rorem's Evidence of Things Not Seen, recorded live at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and in the role of Serena in DECCA's Grammy-nominated recording of Porgy & Bess.

On the concert platform, McDonald has appeared as soloist at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Library of Congress, New York Festival of Song, The Marilyn Horne Foundation, Caramoor Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Santander and Verrano en La Villa Festivals-Spain, Italian Embassy in Paris (Italian and American Ambassadors in attendance), and commanded solo performances for the Prince of Monaco and the King of Belgium. Works performed include Verdi Requiem, Dvorak Requiem, Dvorak Stabat Mater, Brahms Requiem, Mozart Requiem, Mozart’s C Minor Mass, and Exultate Jubilate with conductors that include Maestros Anton Guadagno, Pier Giorgio Morandi, Paolo Arrivabeni, Christopher Hogwood, Lorenzo Muti, John Mauceri, Gerard Schwarz, and Skitch Henderson.

A native New Yorker, Ms. McDonald has been a life-long student of her mother, Betti McDonald. In addition to being accepted into The Juilliard Opera Center, other honors include the Sullivan Foundation Award, the first Leonie Rysanek Award in the George London Competition, first prize winner of the Palm Beach Opera Competition, and first prize winner in the Eleanor McCollum Competition at Houston Grand Opera.

Ms. McDonald has sung in opera houses all over the world including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Japan. She now resides in NYC and in addition to performance, is sharing her talents with the next generation of young artists through private sessions and masterclasses.

Voice