Roanna Kitchen is a Canadian soprano praised for her stage presence and musical versatility. She recently completed her Advanced Certificate in Performance (specializing in early music) from the University of Toronto. Roanna also holds masters and undergraduate degrees in Voice Performance from the same institution, during which time she studied with Frédérique Vézina and Danial Taylor.  

 

Roanna has performed various roles on stage including Norina in Don Pasquale, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Mlle Jouvenot in Adrianna Lecouvreur, Jacinthe in Le Domino Noir, Frasquita in Carmen, Clarice in Il giuoco del quadriglio, Serpina in La serva padrona, Miss Robinson and Lady Appleby in The Shop Girl, Iris in Semele, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance and Donna Marie in Blood Brothers. Roanna is scheduled to perform the role of Countess in Le nozze di Figaro with the Camerata Bardi International Academy later this year, and La Fée in Cendrillon with Opera By Request in 2026. She premiered the role of Mentuhotep in the new opera Conan and the Stone of Kelior and appeared in the original cast recording. Roles cancelled due to force majeure include Mélantho in Pénélope with the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance (2024), Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with the Vocal Academy of Opera in Bodrum (2023), Second Norn in Götterdämmerung with Opera by Request (2020) and Despina in Così fan tutte with The Centre for Opera Studies & Appreciation (2020). Roanna has performed staged scenes such as “Restino imbalsamate...T'aspetto e tu non vieni” in La Calisto as Calisto, “Pur ti miro” in L'incoronazione di Poppea as Poppea and “Alfin siam liberati, Zerlinetta gentil…Là ci darem la mano” in Don Giovanni as Zerlina. She has also participated as a young artist in programs such as Opernfest Prague, the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance, Vocal Academy of Opera in Bodrum, the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute, St. Andrew’s Vocal Techniques Workshop, Opera Nuova’s 10 Day Development Program and the Summer Opera Lyric Theatre. 

 

Roanna has soloed in concert works including the Emerging Artists Recital with Arcady, Purcell’s Come, Ye Sons of Art, Handel’s Jephtha, Love, Beauty and Death in Venice at the TD Music Hall, Halloween Classics with the Quinte Symphony, An Evening of Turkish Song & Opera Favorites at the Bodrum Castle, Art for Peace: A Fundraising Concert for Ukraine through Opera in Reach, Freedom Cabaret: The Spirit and Legacy of Black Music as part of a lecture and demonstration, Handel’s Messiah and Dixit Dominus, A Celebration, A Child’s Prayer and Fauré’s Requiem. Additionally, she has soloed in concerts such as A Night at the Opera and What’s New With You as part of the University of Toronto’s Vocalis Series and in Songs of Hope and Comfort as part of the University of Toronto’s Festival of Song. In addition to solo work, Roanna also enjoys performing with ensembles. She has performed as part of the University of Toronto’s Schola Cantorum, Chamber Choir and Soprano/Alto Chorus as well as the Prince Edward County Economical Choir. Later this season, Roanna looks forward to premiering and recording the full work “Puedo escribir los versos más tristes” by Canadian composer Pratik Gandhi.

 

Roanna has participated in masterclasses conducted by Paul Agnew, Dame Emma Kirkby, William Sharp, Russell Braun, Steven Philcox, Nathalie Paulin, Wendy Neilson, Kimberly Barber and Dominique Labelle and has worked with conductors such as Raffaele Cipriano, Elaine Rinaldi, Tulio Gagliardo, David Fallis, Christopher Bagan, Hilary Apfelstadt and Uri Mayer. She has been the recipient of multiple scholarships including the Arts Abroad Grant through Canada Council for the Arts, the Lillian and Henry Regehr Scholarship, the University of Toronto Music Fellowship Award, Arthur Edward Redsell Scholarship, Lois Marshall Memorial Scholarship, Undergraduate Campaign Scholarship and the President's Entrance Scholarship.

 

In addition to her love for music Roanna also became involved in film. Since graduating from the Mode Elle Model and Talent Agency and working with Catalyst TCM Inc. her credits have included the principal role of Elizabeth Ennen in the television show See No Evil, as well as commercials for Disney Cinderella Princess, Care Bears and Cabbage Patch Dolls.

 

Roanna currently holds an Executive Coordinator position at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music. She is very excited to continue working with students and emerging musicians, helping them to gain access to services that facilitate professional development and enrich their student life experience. Roanna looks forward to further exploring the world of music and its rewards.