“In particular mezzo-soprano Nicole Woodward as the spurious clairvoyant [was] first-rate.”
Mezzo soprano Nicole Woodward
has been hailed for her "rich" and "coruscating" voice. During the 2017-2018 season, Nicole was a Studio Artist with Sarasota Opera. While at Sarasota, Nicole's roles included Flora in La Traviata, Mercedes in Carmen, and Clotilde in Norma. Regarding her performance as Clotilde, Nino Pantano (brooklyndiscovery.com) wrote that Nicole was "noticeable" and that "her rich mezzo was ear worthy and savored."
Nicole was a participant in the 2015 Merola Opera Program, where she sang Madame Flora (Baba) in Gian Carlo Menotti's The Meduim. She won critical praise for her portrayal of Menotti's tour-de-force leading lady on the verge. Joshua Kosman of The San Francisco Chronicle deemed Nicole's performance "first-rate." The Opera Tattler called the performance "impressively unhinged" and praised Nicole for her "rich" voice.
“Mezzo soprano Nicole Woodward’s Flora was a forthright, take-no-prisoners portrayal of a woman in crisis.”
In addition to Sarasota Opera and the Merola Opera Program, Nicole has held residencies with Central City Opera and Opera in the Ozarks. In addition to her work on the opera stage, Nicole has sung as a soloist with San Antonio Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, and the North State Symphony. Nicole was a Mid-South regional finalist for the 2016 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Originally from Quincy, FL, Nicole is a graduate of Florida State University , where she earned her Bachelor's of Music in Voice Performance with honors. She went on to receive her Master of Music and Performer's Certificate from The University of Houston. While at UH, Nicole studied under Melanie Sonnenberg and worked with Buck Ross. She discovered her love for new American opera at UH and was afforded the opportunity to work with several of today's most important American composers (including Carlisle Floyd and Thomas Pasatieri).
This upcoming 2018-2019 season, Nicole will be once again be a Studio Artist with Sarasota Opera. Recent roles include Mrs. Baggott in The Little Sweep, Second Lady in The Magic Flute, and covering Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Nicole is represented by Wade Artist Management and is studying under critically acclaimed soprano Sharon Sweet.