BIOGRAPHY
Praised for her “golden tone” and handling of “difficult music with a glorious ease” (Edge Media Network Miami), mezzo-soprano Rachel Arky is a singing actress noted for her dramatic and musical versatility. Previous engagements include Meg March (Little Women/Annapolis Opera); Maddalena (Rigoletto/Mississippi Opera); Madame Larina (Eugene Onegin/Chautauqua Opera); Carmen (Amore Opera); Berta (Il barbiere di Siviglia/Palm Beach Opera); and Dorabella (Così fan tutte/DC Public Opera). Ms. Arky is also a frequent collaborator with living composers. Recent credits include Pino in Lipkis’ Simonetta (American Chamber Opera Company); Milkmaid in Shiflett’s My Undying Love (American Chamber Opera Company); featured soloist in Anderson’s Songs and Such (Opera America); and a performance of Shiflett’s Rose Saga, Part II (Bruce’s Garden, Inwood).
Ms. Arky maintains an active and diverse concert repertoire. Most recently, she made her Carnegie Hall debut in the Port of Entry Concert singing a selection from Pruzhansky’s Shulamit. Previously, she appeared with the Millenium Chamber Players as a featured soloist in their Gala Concert (DiMenna Center); Helena Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Respighi’s Laud to the Nativity; Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio; Hunter College Orchestra and Choir in Mozart’s Requiem and Dvorak’s Stabat Mater; and DCINY in Mozart’s Coronation Mass (her Lincoln Center debut).
Ms. Arky has placed as a finalist in a number of prestigious competitions, including the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, Giulio Gari International Voice Competition, Opera at Florham Violetta DuPont Vocal Competition, and Marcello Giordani Foundation International Vocal Competition (two years in a row). She has been featured in master classes with several renowned singers and directors, including Frederica von Stade and Catherine Malfitano. Ms. Arky completed her M.M. at Manhattan School of Music and her undergraduate studies at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She currently resides in Millburn, NJ.
(Current as of April 2025)