Makeda Hampton, soprano

Delaware native Makeda Hampton is recognized for her warm and shimmering soprano voice. Makeda has studied and performed across the United States and parts of Europe, including Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Austria. Performances with the American Institute of Musical Studies, Tyrolean Opera Festival, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, New Jersey State Opera, Huntsville Youth Orchestra and Sinfonietta Nova Orchestra were all instrumental in launching her early professional career. In recent seasons, Makeda made solo debuts with the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey, University of Delaware Symphony Orchestra, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Baltimore, OperaDelaware, and the Long Island Concert Orchestra, and has performed as an extra chorister at the Metropolitan Opera since 2019. 

Makeda has won several vocal competitions and music awards, including a Grammy Award “Best Opera Recording” for her performance in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. She won first place in the 2020 MIOpera Vocal Competition, the Montpelier Arts Center Classical Recital Competition, and the Austrian-American Society of Wilmington Music Competition.  In 2016, she won the sought-after first place award in the University of Kentucky's 11th Alltech Voice Competition. A notable recognition is Makeda's 2020 induction into the National Pine Forge Academy Alumni Association’s “Fine Arts Hall of Fame,” an honor shared with many nationally-acclaimed African American artists.  

Makeda earned a Master of Music in voice performance and pedagogy from Westminster Choir College and a Bachelor of Music in voice performance and pedagogy from Oakwood University.