Riley Cardona

Dramatic-coloratura soprano Riley Cardona was raised in a small farming community on the mid-western plains of South Dakota. From humble roots, she began the journey to professional classical singer with passionate determination and a prodigious vocal talent. During her brief career Opera News has already described her voice as “most promising” and “a florid high soprano, with flirtatious charm, and tension-free lyricism.” 

She began her early vocal studies as a opulent lyric soprano, but recently Cardona has developed her luminous instrument into a powerful, dramatic-coloratura soprano; specializing in roles like Queen of the Night, Constanza, Thais, Lakmé, Violetta and Lucia di Lammermoor. At the same time Ms. Cardona uniquely possesses the vocal color and power to sing the major lyric roles of the operatic repertoire, such as Micaela, Mimi, Donna Anna, Manon Lescaut, Fiordiligi, Pamina, Countess and, as she matures, many great Verdi heroines