AMERICA SINGS is a concert series that amplifies the voices of BIPOC artists, who have historically been underrepresented on the concert stage. Each event will feature a wide array of classical, jazz, and popular music. AMERICA SINGS concerts will be hosted at Caffè Lena, and will also be live-streamed to the public for free, but viewers are encouraged to contribute through a virtual donation to support both Opera Saratoga and this concert series.
General Admission: $35; Opera Saratoga Guild Member/ Caffè Lena Member: $25; Student: $15
Cierra Byrd, mezzo soprano, Juan Lázaro, piano
American mezzo-soprano Cierra Byrd is in her third year with The Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Last season, Ms.Byrd made her Met debut as Bertha in the historic, Grammy-nominated production of Terence Blanchard's Fire Shut Up in My Bones. This season, she returned to the Met stage as Woman of Crete in Mozart's Idomeneo. Recently, Ms. Byrd appeared in Mahler's Symphony No.3 with The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Marin Alsop. She is a recent graduate of Peabody Conservatory, from the studio of Margaret Baroody and Denyce Graves.
Pianist Juan Lázaro has been playing the piano since the young age of four. Born on June 9, 1993 in New York, Juan’s talents were discovered by the Bulgarian pedagogue Boriana Savova and began performing at the age of six. In 2006 Juan entered the Mannes College Preparatory Division and began extensive study with Irina Edelman. An active performer, Juan has given numerous solo and collaborative recitals in New York concert stages such as Steinway Hall, Yamaha Hall, and Weill Recital Hall. In 2015, Juan graduated from his Bachelor of Music degree studies at the Juilliard school under the tutelage of Jerome Lowenthal. In 2019 he graduated with his Masters Degree in Vocal Collaborative Piano from Manhattan School of Music under Thomas Muraco. As a vocal coach, he was admitted to the Aspen Music Festival as an Opera Fellow and Music Academy of the West. Juan is currently a Lindemann Young Artist at the Metropolitan Opera.
Ticketing link: Purchase Tickets
Live Stream link: Live stream