Soprano Andrea Bickford is praised for her musical sensitivity, stage acting, and vocal power. She has been seen and heard on opera and concert stages worldwide. Possessing a diverse repertoire, Ms. Bickford has sung the roles of Mrs. Gobineau in Menotti’s The Medium with Buffalo Opera Unlimited, Foreign Princess in Dvorak’s Rusalka with LAHSOW, Rose in San Francisco Conservatory’s production of Later the Same Evening, Vitellia in La clemenza di Tito and Iris in Handel’s Semele at Ithaca College, and Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica with Capitol Opera in Albany, NY, as well as premiering the role of Emery in Chelsea Opera’s production of Sidewalk Serenade. Ms. Bickford was to perform the role of Rosalinde in San Francisco Conservatory’s production of Die Fledermaus, as well as Kate in Gillbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance with Sugar Creek Opera, suspending performance due to Covid-19. She has most recently covered the role of Amelia in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera with Buffalo Opera Unlimited.
Ms. Bickford recently received first place in the Advanced Division of The Mendelssohn Club of Albany Vocal Compeition. She also recieved an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition from the Pittsburgh district in 2022.
As a new-music advocate, Ms. Bickford has premiered several new works of opera and art song over the past few years. She recently premiered the role of Sage in Maxim Samarov’s A Portrait of a Whirlwind in Spokane, WA with the Four Corners
Ensemble. She has also recently been in the world premiere of Mike Dutka’s Liebovar with Boheme Opera NJ. Ms. Bickford has had the pleasure of working with composer Elaine fine and pianist Migeun Chung on the premiere of Impressions, a song cycle set to five poems by Alice Ruth Moore, paired together through the “Voices Raising Voices” campaign with the Christman Opera Company. This beautiful set of five songs premiered on February 1, 2021 and can be found for viewing here. With more projects in the works for the Christmas Opera Company, check back for more details. She was also a part of the virtual production of Lowbrow Opera Collective’s world premiere of Windows: a collection of monodramas composed by Zach Redler with libretto by Sarah Cooper, in May of 2021. Ms. Bickford proudly represents Moon River Opera, based in Savannah, GA, as a Company Artist through virtual performances and outreach lectures with Covid-19 precautions set in place.
Ms. Bickford has performed on the Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center singing the soprano solo in Barber’s Prayer of Kierkegaard with the Ithaca College Choir and Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Janet Galván in 2017. She has also had the privilege to perform at the Casa di Riposo per Musicisti in Milan, Italy in 2019. Under the direction of Benton Hess, Ms. Bickford has participated in Si Parla Si Canta during the summer of 2015 in Urbania, Italy. She was also invited back for the inaugural winter session in 2019 in Arona, Italy. Ms. Bickford’s compelling stage presence paired with her extensive background in dance couples to deliver consistent, graceful, and meaningful performances. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a Minor in Dance from Ithaca College. Ms. Bickford received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Catherine Cook. She currently studies with world-renowned soprano Jennifer Rowley.
