Arizona Opera Cast Members & Creatives

Whether on her four highly-acclaimed solo albums, a member of the beloved New York Voices, or co-founder of two supergroups, Moss and JaLaLa, singer/songwriter Lauren Kinhan has forged her own path as a performer, composer, producer, arranger, educator and now curator. Carving out her solo records between all the on and off ramps of a remarkable career is the mark of a true innovator. From her debut record Hardly Blinking (1999, The Orchard) produced by the legendary Phil Ramone, to two more self styled records all encompassing her enormously imaginative and enigmatic original songs, she has a proven track record as a composer and producer. Avalon (2010, EOne Sony), a journey through a new mother’s brain, and Circle in a Square (2014, Dotted i Records), her tour de force 50th birthday sonic boom, she exercises freely with the musical pen. However in 2017, she had to check a book of standards box off the list which led to 2017’s loving tribute to the late great Nancy Wilson, A Sleepin’ Bee, which Downbeat Magazine gave a highly exclusive 41/2 star rave review! In 2018 she entered into the presenter arena branding a singer centric show Vocal Mania with Grammy Hall of Famer Janis Siegel (The Manhattan Transfer) that has been re-outfitted and re-named Vocal Gumbo since the pandemic put the brakes on the live performance world. Forging new ways to stay connected, collaborate and create music, they were up and broadcasting before most venues had reimagined the new super music highway. Now in 2021 they are firmly established as a pioneer in the midst of changing world with a vision to carry Vocal Gumbo beyond the pandemic and some. Other highlights include her contributions on Bobby Mcferrin’s Vocabularies and Ornette Coleman’s Sound Museum, Three Women. Lauren is on the adjunct faculty at New York University directing the Contemporary and Jazz Ensemble and is a graduate of Berklee College of Music.