Soprano Kaileigh Riess, hailed as “appealing and fresh voiced” (Chicago Tribune) and “the standout…an engaging singer and actor” (The Daily Camera), most recently completed her tenure as an Emerging Artist with Virginia Opera, where she performed in The Pirates of Penzance (Isabel/Mabel cover), Fellow Travelers (Lucy/Mary Johnson cover), and La Traviata (Annina/Violetta cover and performance). Next up, she covers the role of Little Stone in Eurydice by Matthew Aucoin at the Boston Lyric Opera and competes in the quarterfinals of the American Traditions Vocal Competition in Savannah, Georgia.

In the competition circuit, Kaileigh was named a Boston District winner and an LA District Encouragement Award Winner in the Metropolitan Opera's Laffont Compeition, a 3rd place winner of the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, a recipient of the Lys Symonette Finalist Award in the Lotte Lenya Competition, and the inaugural first place winner of the Wilkinson Young Singers Fund. 

Kaileigh completed her education at Northwestern University (BM Voice, BA English), the University of Southern California (MM Opera), and the Boston University Opera Institute (certificate), spending her summers as a fellow with Central City Opera, IVAI Tel Aviv, and Music Academy of the West. Favorite roles performed include Anne Trulove (The Rake’s Progress), La Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro), Blanche de la Force (Dialogues of the Carmelites), Morgana (Alcina), Laurie (The Tender Land), and Lola (Gallantry). Kaileigh has a passion for interpreting new music and worked closely with composer Timothy Peterson and poet Sara Fetherolf in the creation and world premiere of Harp My Bones, a song cycle for voice and piano. Currently, Kaileigh is working with Peterson on a new commission.