Erica Papillion-Posey

Equally at home in the jazz and classical idioms, crossover vocalist, recording artist and author, Erica Papillion-Posey is not to be missed on any stage.

Just off her 2016 break-out role as Clara (Summertime) in the award winning, Aurora Fox Theatre production of Gershwin’s "Porgy and Bess", Ms. Papillion-Posey has recently released her sophomore recording, From the DEEP — June 2017. The Louisiana native’s 2015 debut recording, The Standard Reimagined, when jazz… a nostalgic, torch tribute to the era of the elegant, timeless jazz siren, was co- produced by bassist and educator, Ken Walker and accepted for 2016 Grammy nomination. “Erica Papillion-Posey is best known as a very talented opera singer. However...on “The Standard Reimagined” she is also quite the skilled jazz vocalist. ...she does not sound like an opera singer taking the day off. While the power and perfect control of her voice is not surprising, since those are essential qualities for an opera singer, her subtlety, understanding of the lyrics and natural swing mark her THE fine jazz performer. ...she caresses the themes while infusing the songs with melodic improvising and appealing personality... with “The Standard Reimagined” the evidence...”— Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/ historian and author of 11 books including: The Jazz Singer, Jazz on Film and Jazz on Record 1917-76

May 2015, Erica Papillion-Posey made her Boulder Symphony Orchestra debut as Bizet's gypsy, vixen Carmen under the baton of maestro Devin Patrick Hughes. While making her 2013, professional North American debut with Miami Lyric Opera in what has become her signature role she, “… captured Carmen’s slinky sexiness, radiating allure and trouble... She had the vocal power to sing a soft, seductive "Habanera" in a hall-filling, rounded voice, lingering over the phrases as the men in the square watched. She snapped off the Spanish-style ornaments of the "Seguidilla", and was especially compelling in the lower register, where Carmen’s sultriness comes through…” [South Florida Classical Review]. After being hailed, “… the best Carmen this city has seen in decades” [El Nuovo Herald/Miami Herald] the Miami Lyric Opera has engaged Ms. Papillion-Posey for another performance of Carmen in their 2016-17 season...

In 2010, Ms. Papillion-Posey made her international operatic debut as Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica at the Tuscia Opera Festival, under the baton of maestro Stefano Vignati. The demand for her “wonderful voice… full of grace and sensuality and her fierce commitment to the character keeps European audiences wanting more.” [Arte & Musica Magazine] Other European performances include the title role of Carmen, the Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte both with the Tuscia Opera Festival, Annina in La Traviata with Teatro Kizmet Opera, and Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro with Siena Opera.

Stateside, Ms. Papillion-Posey’s notable roles include her portrayal of Princess Akara in the world premiere of The Lady or the Tiger, an adaptation of Frank Stockton’s beloved short story by composers Cherise Leiter and Leanna Kirchoff. Ms. Papillion-Posey’s “purely exciting and rich voice” [Arte & Musica Magazine] was also featured as Baba in The Medium, Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte, and the title role in The Rape of Lucretia.

As a classical concert artist and recitalist, Ms. Papillion-Posey’s repertoire includes performances of Handel’s Messiah, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater under the direction of Timothy Léon in Tarquinia, Civita di Bagnoregio, Castilione, Capranica and Ronciglione in addition to several solo recitals.

2014, Ms. Papillion-Posey was named a semi-Finalist to the Paris Opera Awards. 2013 year, she was named a Continuo Arts, Milton Cross Young Artists Winner after being named the organization’s Rising Star Young Artists Winner in 2012. Other accolades and awards include first and second place winner of the Vocal Arts Competition of Colorado, respectively in 2005 and 2006, International Lyric Academy of Rome e Viterbo Award, AMICI of Denver Scholarship, Dante Alighieri Music Scholarship Competition, Jeff Bradley Music Scholarship Fund, E. Stoddard Young Endowment Scholarship, Stratton Faulhaber Scholarship, Coulter Norbloom Scholarship Grant and Joseph Docksey Career Development Fund Award.

An avid writer and lover of the literary arts, November 2015, Ms. Papillion-Posey penned and released her first book, Musings from the Mind of a Mezzo: poetry & prose of passion, pain and plight, a compilation of deeply personal works which chronicle her experiences as a child of adoption, a woman and performing artist.

Ms. Papillion-Posey has a Master of Music degree and Certificate in Vocal Performance both from the University of Denver, Lamont School of Music, a Bachelor of Music from Metropolitan State University of Denver and an Associate of Business Management from Platt Business and Technical College. She is a member of the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammys), Italian Institute of Denver, L’Alliance Française de Denver, Friends of Music at Metro and serves as board advisor on performing arts to Grand Design Inc. Show less