Praised for her “ravishing coloratura” and “vivid” singing, soprano Ariel Downs makes an impression with her adventurous repertoire and intense stage presence. This season includes her role debuts as Musetta (La Boheme) and Gilda (Rigoletto) with Midwest Opera Theater, as well as a self-produced production of Debussy’s cantata La damoiselle élue. As a strong interpreter of new works, Ariel has originated several roles, including Queen Amarosa (The Bucket), Chrissy (percs.), and Gale (The Nightingale and the Rose). She has also been an apprentice artist with the Cortona Sessions for New Music and New Music on the Point where she premiered numerous art songs. Within the standard repertoire, her roles have included Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring) and Adele (Die Fledermaus) with University of Missouri Kansas City, Despina (Cosi fan tutte) with Mid-Ohio Civic Opera, Nannetta (Falstaff) with Lawrence Opera Theatre, and Taumännchen/Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel) with the Bar Harbor Music Festival. Ariel has been honored by the support of a number of organizations. She is a recipient of the Koch Cultural Trust Artist Grant, the Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Development Grant, and the UMKC Women’s Council Graduate Assistance Fund. She was a finalist in the 2021 Artist Presentation Society Competition, the 2019 Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, and the 2019 University of Missouri Kansas City Concerto Aria Competition. Ariel is currently a Doctoral candidate at the University of Missouri Kansas City studying with Dr. Maria Kanyova. She resides in Chicago with her partner and her tabby cat Snicklefritz.