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.  

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Roanna has performed various roles on stage including Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, 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. 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 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 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. In 2024 Roanna looks forward to returning to the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance to perform in Penelope, and participating as a Voice Fellow in Opernfest Prague. Roanna is currently an Arcady RBC Emerging Artist.

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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, Roanna 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. 

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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.

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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.

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Roanna is currently working with The Lane School of Music as a Voice Teacher. She also holds an Associate position at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music Booking Office. She is very excited to continue working with youth, as well as helping emerging musicians gain access to more performance opportunities. She believes that by bridging the gap between the youth of today, underrepresented composers and the classical music world it will not only help to expose new generations to incredible music, but also help to make classical music even more accessible by expanding the recognized canon. Roanna is excited to further explore the world of music and its rewards.