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Summer 2026
Performances, Highlights & African Romances Hi friends! Happy summer! As this new season begins, I want to share a few highlights, upcoming performances, and ways to stay connected to my work, whether we meet in person, online, or through the music.
Recognized by Delaware Online / The News Journal One highlight from earlier this year was a recognition close to home. I’m honored that I was recognized by Delaware Online / The News Journal as one of Delaware’s Most Influential & Inspiring People in the Arts for 2026. 
As a Delaware native, this recognition is especially meaningful. So much of my work lives at the intersection of performance, education, research, and cultural storytelling, and it is a joy to see that work recognized at home.
The web feature is behind a paywall, but you can access the PDF article at this link below. Read the Feature
Summer 2026 Performances This summer, I’ll be singing in New Jersey and Delaware, and I’d love to see you at one of these upcoming performances: June 28 — The State Opera of New Jersey | Princeton, NJ
July 11–12 — Southern Delaware Orchestra | Milford & Lewes, DE
July 25 — Freeman Arts Pavilion | Selbyville, DE 
Watch a performance of Gershwin's “Summertime” with SODELO. If you can’t make it in person, you can still stay connected through my YouTube channel, where I'll share video highlights, behind-the-scenes clips, and performance updates throughout the season.
A Milestone at The Metropolitan Opera This season also brought a special milestone: since joining the Metropolitan Opera roster in 2019, I’ve now performed in 70+ Met performances across multiple productions as a member of the extra chorus, including Porgy and Bess, Andrea Chénier, and Eugene Onegin in the 2025-2026 season. It was a full season, and I’m grateful to have been part of these productions on the Met Opera stage. 
Watch a clip of “O Pastorelle, Addio” from Andrea Chénier"
Look closely to find me! ☺️
African Romances: Voice, Poetry, and Legacy My debut solo album, AFRICAN ROMANCES, represents a major artistic milestone in my career and a project I’m proud to continue sharing. Centered on Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s African Romances, Op. 17, with poetry by Paul Laurence Dunbar, the album brings together performance, scholarship, and cultural memory. This past year also marked the 150th anniversary of Coleridge-Taylor’s birth, making the project feel even more timely and resonant. 
As the album continues to reach new listeners, I’m especially grateful for the ways this music keeps opening conversations about voice, poetry, and Black history. Thank you to everyone who has listened, shared, purchased, or sent a note about this project. Your support means so much.
I’m looking forward to more music, more storytelling, and more community in the months ahead.
With gratitude,
Makeda 
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