Taleesha Scott Richardson
Taleesha's Bio
A native of Buffalo, New York, Soprano Taleesha Scott Richardson earned her Master of Music degree in Vocal Pedagogy from the New England Conservatory of Music and Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University.
In her burgeoning, young career, Ms. Richardson has already been the recipient of many awards, honors and accolades for her professionalism, beauty of sound, flexibility, interpretation, an intelligent sensitivity for varied repertoire, as well as acting abilities, and gracious generosity she brings with her gift.
Ms. Richardson sang for the 57th Presidential Inauguration with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. She was also in the 75th Annual National touring production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess as the Clara cover and funeral soloist. Ms. Richardson sang the role of Livella in the 2011 world premiere of the American Opera Highway to Canaan by Dr. J LanYe. And revived the role in 2012 at the Ohio Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2010, Ms. Richardson was cited by the “Baltimore Sun” in the title role of Cendrillon by P. Viardot as “…[offering] the most impressive singing, with a gleaming tone, sensitive phrasing and admirable clarity of articulation.”
In 2009 Ms. Richardson became the Soprano Soloist for the chamber ensemble Opus Nine, based in New York City. Ms. Richardson sang the role of Lucy in Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha for the Opera Providence’s 2007-2008 season. In the role of Nannetta in Verdi’s Falstaff she was cited by the “Baltimore Sun” as “…[going] well beyond as Nannetta revealing a delicious shimmer to her voice and telling nuance in her voice and telling nuance in her phrasing.”
Additional roles include Cissie Woodger in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring, Naiad in a concert version of Ariadne auf Naxos, and Soprano Soloist in Camille Saint Saens’ Christmas Oratorio with Buffalo Opera Unlimited, as well as concert and scene work such as Adele in Die Fledermaus, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor and Susanna in Le Nozze di FIgaro.
Among Ms. Richardson’s awards and honors are 1st place Gold Medal at the National NAACP ACTSO, Classical Vocal Competition, 1st place Gold Medal in the Western NY Regional NAACP ACT-SO Contemporary Vocal Competition, a two time winner of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity’s annual Competition and runner up in the Maryland Regional “Leontyne Price Competition.”
In 2007 she participated in the Spoleto Vocal Arts Symposium, Spoleto, Italy, where she coached with Enza Ferrari and performed at the Teatro Ciao Melisso. Additional activities include performing with a backup ensemble for Kenny Rogers’ Christmas Show for two years, participation in the “Juilliard Experience” and various programs, ensembles, recitals, public events and other artistic genres.
Ms. Richardson is co-owner of the Richardson School of Music and helped open RSM along with Founder and Director, Vincent Richardson. The school has highly qualified music teachers in every instrument and has grown tremendously since it’s opening. In addition to her role at the Richardson School of Music, she is a working freelance Artist and Teacher in NYC and the DMV.