About
Born in the Philippines and raised in Portland, Oregon, soprano Mariah Rae (she/her) now resides in and performs throughout Southern California. Mariah received a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music (BCCM) at California State University Long Beach in 2020, studying with Dr. Katharin Rundus and the late Timothy MacDougall. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance and Journalism from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) where she studied with Dr. Veera Khare Asher and Dr. Karl Snider.
Mariah is often praised for her sharp musicianship and theatrical instincts. Mariah started in musical theatre and piano at a young age prior to studying classical voice, and finds herself mostly in operatic and choral spaces today. Her adaptability also allows her sing in a variety of genres and styles, and to pursue projects outside of the box.
Onstage
Mariah has recently appeared with Pacific Opera Project, Lyric Opera of Orange County, and sings with Tonality Choir in Los Angeles. Recent opera credits include Bizet's Carmen, Tchaikovsky's Iolanta, and Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore. Mariah has performed roles such as Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief, Lauretta in Gianni Schicci, Soeur Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites, and scenes as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Adina in L'elisir d'amore, Manon in Manon, Despina in Così fan tutte, as well as Cage's Europera 5 and Blitzstein's Regina. Mariah placed 2nd in the NATS-LA Collegiate Auditions Graduate Division in 2021, participated in SongFest as a Young Artist where she workshopped with luminaries such as Jake Heggie in 2019, attended the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) Opera Studio in Graz where she sang under the baton of Marzio Conti and worked with Alfonse Anderson, sang in Hawaii Performing Arts Festival in Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and Puccini's Suor Angelica in 2017, the University of Miami Frost School of Music's summer program in Salzburg in 2016, and toured with the Loyola Marymount University choruses in France in 2015. Mariah completed her solo thesis recital at Loyola Marymount University in 2018 where she was a member of vocal ensembles such as The Consort Singers and The Sinatra Opera Workshop.
Offstage
Adjacently from singing, Mariah maintains a balance between her work as an arts and nonprofit professional. She has excelled academically and professionally, where she was awarded 'Music Department Program Scholar' at LMU and the 'Outstanding Creative Activity' Commencement Award at BCCM for her writing about the unknown Filipina singer Jovita Fuentes and the notion of resilience. She strives to use her voice and diverse skillset to uplift and advocate for creative outlets in her communities.
Mariah constantly seeks to align her personal values and artistic missions; bringing her passionate and authentic spirit to all performances and endeavors.
