Denyce Graves
Zoe Band, MM1
Zoe is pursuing her Masters of Music at the Peabody Conservatory under the tutelage of Ah Young Hong and Denyce Graves. Last season, she performed the role of Betty Parris in Peabody’s production of Robert Ward’s The Crucible. This past May, she performed the role of Abby in Peabody’s Opera Etudes, a series of operas written by Peabody composition students. Most recently, Band appeared as Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, with Little Patuxent Opera. In September, she sang for a benefit concert with the St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival. This season, she will perform the role of Ferdinand in Douglas Buchanan’s The Tempest with Peabody Outreach throughout the Fall and Spring, with a final performance at the Baltimore Theatre Project. In March, she will sing Governess Benson in Leo Delibes’ Lakmé with Peabody Opera, and the Peabody Concert Orchestra.
Taylor Boykins, MM1
Taylor Boykins is a first year graduate student in Voice Performance, and is studying under Denyce Graves. She received her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and grew up about 20 minutes from the University in Pontiac, Michigan. During her undergraduate career, Taylor was heavily involved in OU's top choir, the Oakland Chorale, Oakland Symphony Chorus, and participated in various scenes in OU's Opera Workshop program. Some of her roles performed include Charlotte from Werther, Sally from A Hand of Bridge, Ruth from Pirates of Penzance, Augusta from The Ballad of Baby Doe, The Third Lady from The Magic Flute, and Baba from The Medium.
Along with obtaining her MM here at Peabody, Taylor is also studying on the side to become a minister. She is a member of Peabody's Christian group, The River, enjoys biking, archery, and hopes to try rowing as well during her stay in Baltimore. Taylor is a Mezzo-Soprano.
Brandi Diggs
Brandi Diggs is a native of Atlanta, GA. She holds a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance from East Carolina University where she studied with Dr. Louise Toppin and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Spelman College. While at Spelman College she was a soloist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Miss Diggs has competed in several competitions and was a regional winner in NATS (Graduate Women). She has performed the roles of Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Frasquita in Carmen and Katherine in Dream Lover's as well as others. She was a young artist for the Martina Arroyo Foundation this past summer and studied at the New York Foundation for the Arts Music and Mentoring house under the leadership of Lauren Flanigan. During her interim studies, she studied voice at the University of Georgia with Dr. Stephanie Tingler. At the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University Miss. Diggs studies with internationally renowned operatic superstar- Denyce Graves. This Fall she will sing Ariel in Ariel’s Tempest with the Peabody Opera’s Outreach Program.
Tia Price, MM1
Tia Price, mezzo-soprano, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Applied Music, cum laude, from Alderson Broaddus College, WV. She has participated in various vocal competitions and her awards include: MTNA National vocal finalist (2012), Alderson Broaddus College Honors Recital Winner (2012), 1st place WVNATS Senior Women’s Division (2011), and was a winner of the Alderson Broaddus College Concerto Competition in which she sang Re dell’abisso affrettati with members of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (2011). She has also had many solo opportunities as a member of the Alderson Broaddus College Concert Choir including a solo in Ocean of Peace by Gerald Cohen at Carnegie Hall. Her operatic credits include: scenes from Dialogues of the Carmelites (Blanche), and she was cast in this year’s production of Lakmè as Rose.
