Alyson Cambridge facts for kids

Alyson Cambridge is an American opera singer, known as a soprano. Besides opera, she also sings classical songs, jazz, and popular American music. She is also a model, actress, and host.

In 2003, Alyson won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She was the youngest person ever to win this big prize. The next year, she performed at the Metropolitan Opera for the first time in an opera called Carmen. She also won several other important awards for her singing in 2003, 2004, and 2008.

Her first album, From the Diary of Sally Hemings, came out in 2010. In 2016, she released her second album, Until Now, which featured jazz and popular American songs. She has also worked as a brand ambassador for luxury brands like Chopard. In 2018, she performed on Broadway in a show called Rocktopia, which mixes rock music with classical music.

Early Life and Background

Alyson Cambridge grew up in Arlington, Virginia. Her father came to the United States from Guyana when he was 19. He works as an economist at the World Bank. Her mother is from Minnesota and has Danish and Norwegian family roots. She works at the National Academy of Sciences.

Alyson grew up listening to many kinds of music. Her mother loved classical music and opera. Her father enjoyed Caribbean music, calypso, reggae, soca, disco, and jazz. Alyson herself loved pop stars like Whitney Houston and Madonna.

Alyson started taking singing lessons when she was 12 years old. A friend heard her jokingly sing opera and suggested she try it. She took lessons at the Levine School of Music. In high school, she was an athlete and played soccer. She often kept her classical singing a secret because she thought it wasn't "cool" among her friends.

Today, Alyson lives in New York City with her dog, Lucy.

College Years

Alyson went to Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music. She earned two degrees at the same time: one in Voice Performance and another in sociology. In her last year of college, she decided to become a full-time opera singer. After Oberlin, she continued her singing studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia for a year.

Opera Performances

Alyson Cambridge started her opera career with a lighter voice, but it has grown stronger over time. She can now sing more powerful and dramatic opera roles.

In 2003, while still a student, Alyson won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. This was a huge achievement, and she was the youngest winner ever. This award helped her join the Metropolitan Opera's special program for young artists. It also gave her money to help with her education and career.

In 2004, Alyson made her first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera. She played the role of Frasquita in the opera Carmen. A newspaper called The New York Times praised her "powerful, clear voice." Since then, she has performed in many other operas with the Metropolitan Opera. She has also sung lead roles in other major opera houses, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Washington National Opera.

Other Music Projects

Alyson Cambridge also performs music outside of opera. In 2014, she performed at the "Soul Train Music Awards" on BET. She also sang at the "2014 Christmas Concert for the Troops" at the Kennedy Center. She even performed for the United States Supreme Court.

She has sung with many famous orchestras. These include the San Francisco Symphony and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. She has performed classical pieces by composers like Gustav Mahler and Johannes Brahms. She also gives solo concerts in different cities and countries.

In 2018, she performed on Broadway in the show Rocktopia. This show combines classic rock songs with famous classical music.

Albums and Recordings

Alyson Cambridge has released several albums.

• In 2010, her first album, From the Diary of Sally Hemings, was released. It features songs about Sally Hemings, a slave who was connected to Thomas Jefferson.
• In 2016, she released her second album, Until Now. This album features popular jazz and American songs.
• In September 2018, her third album, Sisters in Song, was released. She recorded this album with another soprano, Nicole Cabell. It includes opera, art songs, and African-American spirituals.

Outside of Music

Alyson Cambridge is also known for her work as a model. She is a brand ambassador for luxury watch and jewelry designer Chopard. She also works with fashion designer Monika Chiang. She has modeled for various fashion and lifestyle brands.

She also gives her time to help charities. Some of the organizations she supports include The Fresh Air Fund, The Humane Society, K9s for Warriors, and the American Red Cross.