“Joy is a mesmerizing & voluminous, lyric-coloratura soprano, with a stunning mezzo chest voice & incredible range.” - The New York Times

She has a deep affinity for bel canto & favorited roles in her arsenal are: 

NORMA in “Norma” by Bellini

ELISABETTA in “Maria Stuarda” by Donizetti

FIORDILIGI in “Cosi Fan Tutte” by Mozart

ADINA in “L’Elisire d’amore” by Donizetti

“Joy is continuously sought out, not only for her professionalism, integrity & unique personal style, but for her experience & passion for new opera & premier works.“ - Time Out New York

Favorited *premiere* roles include:

LAVINIA WILLIAMS in “Madame Theremin” by Kennedy Verrett (2023)

MONASE in “Mota” by William Grant Still (2022)

FELICE in “Broke” by Andy Teirstein (2022)

SOVANN in “Only You Will Hear the Signal” by Kamala Sankaram (2020)

April 2023 Joy premiered the title role of LAVINIA WILLIAMS in “MADAME THEREMIN” composed by Hollywood film legend, Kennedy Verrett. It is based on the true love story of Lavinia, the 1st black ballet dancer to perform Stravinksky’s Firebird in 1938 & her husband Leon Theremin, inventor of the musical instrument (Theremin) & a Russian spy.

April 1st, 2022 she had the distinguished honor of returning to her Alma Mater (Crane School of Music) to premiere the role of MONASE in edits finally released by his estate, William Grant Still’s opera, “MOTA”.

May 2022 Joy premiered the featured role of FELICE in the opera “BROKE” at Opera America. July 2023 an extended version of the opera was filmed & produced at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

The film premiered December 21st 2023 at 415 Main Street Art Gallery in Rosendale, NY. Available soon.

The libretto is taken from author Maggie Dubris’ book Broke Down Palace, with music by Andy Teirstein, a former student of Leonard Bernstein, & choreography by Tony-nominated (The Color Purple) choreographer, Donald Byrd.

May 2022 Joy premiered the role of ATHENA in “PENELOPE AND THE GEESE”, a feminist reinterpretation of the Penelope story from The Odyssey, by composer Milica Paranosic & librettist Cheri Magid. It is scored for Serbian Gusle, harp, flute, cello, Greek Lyre & Aolos. The chorus is comprised of Sopranos only, leaving the title character a Mezzo-soprano (Hai-Ting Chen). With an all female cast, instrumentalists, production staff & crew, including legendary conductor, Mila Henry.

This work debuted on the day Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Fall of 2020, Joy originated the role of SOVANN in “ONLY YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE SIGNAL”, a serialized opera by Grammy Award Nominee, Kamala Sankram, Rob Handel & Kristin Martig.

This digital production aired episodically for 7 weeks though HERE’s #stillHERE platform & is still available for viewing at here.org.

Summer of 2019 & 2021 Joy premiered the role of L.A. MOTHER in “HIPOPERA” , an opera based on the plot of Marvel’s Black Panther, written by world famous pianist & composer Joel A. Martin. He wrote the role specifically for Joy’s voice.

*** That same summer, during the premiere of “THIS IS THE GROUND” (an interactive, musical journey mapping American refusal to surrender on the grounds of the Old Stone House in Brooklyn where the battle actually took place in 1776) Joy was featured in a 10 minute special about the life of an opera singer & independent artist living in New York City on NHK TV in Japan.***