Rewriting the Rules: Brittany Renee’s Joyful Journey
Soprano Brittany Renee embraces challenging repertoire while prioritizing her personal life. Asking herself “Am I ready?” helps her focus on a growth mindset and see each point of her career as a learning experience.
From early musical exposure to starring on the stage of The Metropolitan Opera, soprano Brittany Renee embodies a rare combination of versatility, passion, and authenticity. Recognized for her luminous tone and riveting storytelling, Renee has navigated challenges including career burnout and the complexities of balancing personal life with performance demands. Yet her story is also one of joy rediscovered, artistic rebirth during the pandemic, and a fearless embrace of artistic innovation.
As a young singer in New York City studying and auditioning, Brittany’s day job was in the finance industry. She landed a position in The Metropolitan Opera’s extra chorus and soon sang an audition for leading roles in its mainstage productions. Arts administrator Paul Hopper recalls that pivotal moment: “I was immediately taken by her sizable and distinct instrument that oozed with beauty and expression. Our conversations culminated in her returning to the Met for a six-production, season-long contract.”
Peter Gelb also heralded her stunning trajectory: “Brittany Renee has gone from a relatively small supporting role in the Met premiere of Fire Shut Up in My Bones in 2021 to singing one of the title roles in Porgy and Bess this season, a meteoric rise that is a result of her beautiful voice and stunning stage presence.”
James Robinson, general director of Seattle Opera, also took note of Brittany’s talent at the Met Opera: “She immediately impressed as a great colleague and a dazzling presence on stage. I couldn’t be happier to have her taking on the role of Bess in Porgy at the Met. She brings so much, from great artistry to a wonderful collaborative spirit.”
Breaking boundaries seems to come naturally for Renee. Equally at ease in 19th century repertoire and world premieres, she never backs away from a challenge. Composer Paola Prestini developed an admiration of her talent after her performance in Silent Light: “Not only is her voice a dream: she’s also an extraordinary actress. I knew immediately I needed to write for her again, and I’m lucky to be writing a lead role for her in my new opera for Spoleto!” Unafraid to think beyond traditional performance paths, Renee embraces every new door that opens. The film score for The Woman King starring Viola Davis features her soaring voice, and she dreams of hosting her own Netflix show or even a WWE match.
Though Renee appears to have emerged suddenly as an overnight success, her achievements are hard fought and earned after years of study and struggle. She began singing at the tender age of two. “I absorbed all kinds of music from jazz, gospel, [and] musical theatre to classical. I loved listening to everything from Leontyne Price’s recording of arias and spirituals to the jazz classics of Ella Fitzgerald. I also danced growing up, so I was very connected to storytelling through body and voice.
“But the moment everything was crystallized for me was when I heard Don Giovanni live at age 13. I remember thinking, ‘What is this? How can I have more of this in my life?’ It was like a breath had been taken away from me. It awakened something in me—something that made me want to devote my life to singing. For a while, I wanted to pursue veterinary school. My reaction to the sight of animal blood quickly changed my mind, and I realized opera wasn’t just my passion, it was my calling.”
Her path wasn’t always clear, however. “Right after finishing my grad degree at Peabody Conservatory, I realized, ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do!’ I knew I wanted to keep singing, but I wasn’t ready to jump into this young artist audition circuit. I was still figuring out things with my voice.” Soprano Martile Rowland connected with Renee at a summer program and she invited her back the following year.
“When I returned, she helped me fall in love with my voice and find my joy again in singing. She helped me clear away the conflicting opinions that I was receiving in college and focus only on my voice. For a few years, I literally had a lesson with her every single week. My routine consisted of my temp job and just consistently going and singing with her. It was such a pleasure.”
As an emerging artist, Brittany sang in the Young Patronesses of the Opera Competition in Miami. She walked away with first prize that day and found an advocate, teacher, and mentor in Gerald Martin Moore, one of the judges. “I was instantly impressed by the distinctive quality of her sound from the opening phrase,” he recalls.
“Her ability to succeed in roles as diverse as Queen of the Night and Lakmé in addition to the fuller lyric roles made her both special but perhaps initially confusing to some casting people. Undaunted by this, her positive attitude and perseverance in pursuing her own path is now reaping the rewards. I am thrilled to see her enjoying the success I always believed she deserved!”
Renee’s public success came after private challenges. “Like many singers, especially early in my career, I found myself juggling too much. I was living in New York, performing in productions, and working side jobs—including administrative work in the financial industry—plus my church job, family, and friends. It led to burnout; I was barely sleeping and losing the joy of singing. In 2020, I took a step back and asked myself, ‘Why am I not grateful for this talent God gave me? What’s missing?’ I realized I needed to take a step back and reassess.
“Covid lockdowns led me to prioritize a balance between work and private life. Now, I consciously carve out time for family and activities that are most meaningful to me. For the first time in ages, I actually took a real vacation this summer! I now feel secure enough in my path to occasionally say no to work and yes to the people who matter most to me. This approach keeps me engaged and protects my energy. I’ve found a delicate joy in balancing career and personal fulfillment.”
Brittany Renee’s patience and consistent study laid the groundwork for her flourishing international career. Her European leading role debut in Porgy and Bess at Teatro Regio Torino stretched her physically and emotionally, requiring vulnerability and courage to connect deeply with audiences. “I often ask myself, ‘Am I ready? Can I embody all the emotional nuances?’” she says.
“Stepping into Bess’s shoes for the first time was daunting but also exhilarating. It was my first international leading role and the most physically demanding one I’ve done. I’d previously sung comedic and smaller parts, so commanding such intensity pushed me in new ways artistically and emotionally. It’s a process, and mindset matters immensely. It was a key learning experience in giving my all, without inhibitions. I had to dig deep, tap into my vulnerability, and let go of my fear to connect with the audience.” Roles with rich emotional arcs continually challenge and inspire her, and she approaches each opportunity with a willingness to stretch herself.
Another personal high point in Renee’s career was her debut in Fire Shut Up in My Bones at The Metropolitan Opera. She still radiates with excitement as she recalls the experience: “It was transformative on many levels. Being in such a creative space with so many different people from so many different aspects of the musical industry. I’d never seen such a confluence of jazz, musical theatre, and opera all in one room. Being able to portray real-life experiences from my grandparents, parents, and even my own journey onstage was mind blowing. It was meaningful to share those stories—not just the traumatic, but the joy behind the struggles.”
“For me, storytelling is key in everything I do. I choose my roles by first connecting deeply with the narrative,” Renee explains. “If I don’t believe in the story, I can’t bring it truthfully to life, and the audience won’t feel it either. That authenticity is what I strive for, whether in new works or classics by Verdi and Mozart. My first step is to listen carefully to the orchestration to understand where my character fits emotionally and dramatically. In an intensely emotional contemporary story, I do a lot of meditation and yoga to remain centered and in my body.”
Once she accepts an opportunity, Renee dives into deep preparation: “If I do my homework, train my voice, learn the score, and prepare my mind, the rest takes care of itself.”
When aspiring young opera professionals seek Renee’s advice, her admonition is simple: “I always say, be your authentic self. Stay grounded and humble, but trust your intuition. If you feel a role or project aligns with your heart and story, go for it. If not, don’t be afraid to build your own box, your own unique space where your true self can shine. Balance is vital. You must find joy in what you do and protect your mental, physical, and emotional health. When you love your work, it resonates with others in powerful ways.”
“Another one of the most pivotal ideas is to find your village of support, a reliable core group. Whether these are your friends, your coaches, a good mentor, or the people that you’ve worked with, they need to be able to speak about your current work and give you insight on where you’re going. I didn’t have that early in my career, and now I realize how helpful it can be. As an adult, I can go back and honestly ask for help from these individuals and trust them. Young singers get so many opinions, and they need help deciphering them. Some opinions will work well; others won’t, and that’s okay! It’s okay to remember these are just opinions. You need to be able to fall back on your village of advisors and to trust your gut.”
Her own team of advocates includes her parents, vocal teachers like Martile Rowland and Gerald Martin Moore, and her husband. “My parents both had their own businesses, so I love seeking their guidance when navigating any tricky conversations in the industry. Martile I will always give credit for helping me find and sustain the deep joy and satisfaction of loving my voice. With Gerald, it’s always the pleasure of discovery. I always find something new when I’m working through music with him. There’s excitement in the entire process of learning and growing, not just in performing. Of course, my husband and close friends are in my corner, as always, and they give me the perspective of ‘the real world’ outside of the industry; that keeps me grounded.”
“I didn’t have that support early on and realized it’s okay to ask for help. You need people who understand your journey and can offer honest insight.” Rowland helped her rediscover joy and focus in her singing, while Moore inspires excitement for vocal exploration and new roles.
She also values mentorship from today’s stars like LaTonia Moore, Nicole Carr, and Angel Blue, who find sustainability in deeply loving the art.
“The most important words of wisdom that LaTonia shared with me in our heart-to-heart was ‘You have to find the love for what you do and never lose sight of it.’ I’ll never forget her inspiring advice, and it continues to guide me. If I’m not happy singing a role, I have to make a change. My goal now is to have fun—always.”
Like Moore, Renee recognizes her own ability to inspire audiences through representation. “I’ve been overwhelmed by people who have come up to me and shared that because of me, they attended their first opera. They’ll say things like, ‘I didn’t know people who looked like me sang in operas!’ They’ll finally realize that their old family recording of ‘Porgi amor’ originated in The Marriage of Figaro. Seeing stories in operas by Terence Blanchard or performers like me can be life changing, and it’s a critical reminder that representation matters.”
Brittany Renee’s blossoming career highlights the power of authentic storytelling through music, inspiring a new generation of artists to follow their own voices. Her story reminds young singers to fall in love all over again with music, relentlessly seek joy, and live deeply fulfilled lives. When asked how she hopes to be remembered, her reply is simple but profound: “‘She loved what she did. She gave her heart to her roles and music. She was her authentic self. And she always gave a sense of joy.’
“After taking time to reflect deeply on this path, I’m just so grateful to be able to do this with my voice, my body, and with my entire being. I want people to feel that same joy when they hear me sing.”
