ADA Artist Management & Representation

Biography

Soprano Shana Blake Hill continues to excite audiences and critics alike proving herself a multifaceted performer in both the operatic and orchestral repertoires. Of her recent debut singing composer Bright Sheng’s The Phoenix with The Philadelphia Orchestra under Charles Dutoit, The Saratogan exclaimed, “Shana Blake Hill was amazing in this very difficult soprano role…her richly colored tone lent dignity and a sense of awe to the tale…she was a mesmerizing presence.” The Los Angeles Times has described her as “an intense young soprano…a standout.” Recent engagements include Susannah with Opera Pacific, Rosalba in Daniel Catan’s Florencia en el Amazonas with Cincinnati Opera, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus with Opera Southwest, “Secrets of the Sky and Sea” with Berkshire Opera as well as a solo recital on their Vocal Colors series entitled “Art in Nature”, Berlioz’ Romeo and Juliet with Louisville Symphony, Bruckner Te Deum and Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with The New West Symphony, Mahler’s Fourth Symphony and Canteloube’s Chants D’Auvergne with Jorge Mester and the Pasadena Symphony and The Naples Philharmonic, Mozart Great Mass in c minor with Pasadena Symphony, Dvorak Stabat Mater with The Angeles Chorale, two concerts with Pasadena Pops Orchestra, and a Southeastern Festival of Song concert with the Bryan Symphony in Tennessee. Notable upcoming events include the release on the Naxos label of Bright Sheng’s The Phoenix with The Seattle Symphony and Gerald Schwartz, and Mahler Symphony No. 2 with the New West Symphony. Additional upcoming engagements include Violetta in La traviata with Dayton Opera and the as well as appearances with The Philadelphia Orchestra and the North Carolina Symphony.

Additional operatic credits include Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Leila in Les pêcheurs des perles, Vitellia in La clemenza di Tito, Adina in L’elsir d’amore, and both Mimi and Musetta in La bohème. During her tenure as a resident artist with the Los Angeles Opera she appeared with the company in their productions of Die Zauberflöte, Peter Grimes, La bohème, La cenerentola, and Le nozze di Figaro, as well as in the world premieres of On Gold Mountain and Florencia en el Amazonas. Symphonic works include Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras #5, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis which she performed under the baton of Kent Nagano.

Especially at home with contemporary music, some of Ms. Hill’s World Premiers and projects include: Bright Sheng’s The Phoenix for soprano and orchestra, Sakagawea in Michael Ching’s opera Corps of Discovery, Sally Hemings in Glenn Paxton’s opera Monticello, Ticie in On Gold Mountain by Nathan Wang commissioned by Los Angeles Opera, Sara’s Diary: 9/11, a dramatic song cycle on prose by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Leroy Aarons, Peter Boyer’s On Music’s Wings for soprano, orchestra and 300 children and both the roles of Rosalba and Florencia Grimaldi in Daniel Catan’s acclaimed opera Florencia en el Amazonas. In the genre of film Ms. Hill was chosen by film composer Jerry Goldsmith to record the title track “The Mission” which opens Paramount’s Blockbuster film The Sum of All Fears, starring Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman. Amazon.com remarks in their review of the soundtrack CD, “what sets it apart is the operatic performance of Shana Blake Hill…a stirring opening which proves to be the highpoint of the score.” Ms. Hill’s performance of “The Mission” was recently chosen to be part of Paramount Studio’s newly released 90th Anniversary Favorite Soundtrack Compilation CD. Other media credits include solos on the soundtracks of the feature film “Red Dirt” and the Sci-Fi Series “Seven Days to Midnight.”

Born in North Carolina Ms. Hill received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, her Master of Music from The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, and is an Alumna of The Los Angeles Opera’s Resident Artist program.