School of Music, Theatre
and Dance

Varner Hall, Room 207
371 Varner Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4485
(location map)
Academic Office: (248) 370-2030
Box Office: (248) 370-3013
Fax: (248) 370-2041
[email protected]

Nicole Joseph

A headshot of Nicole Joseph.

Lecturer, Applied Voice

Contact: [email protected]

Described as an artist with a “sweeping range of emotions” and a “honeyed, effortless voice,” soprano Nicole Joseph has delighted audiences in a wide range of performances across the country. Highlights of recent seasons include appearances with Detroit Opera in Ragnar Kjartansson’s 12-hour marathon piece, Bliss, where she was lauded as a Countess with “leading-lady clarity, timbral variety, and stage presence,” as well as Girlfriend #2 in Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson’s Blue, also with Detroit Opera. Ms. Joseph has received critical acclaim for many recent opera performances, including Bea (Three Decembers) with Kentucky Opera, and Blanche (Dialogue of the Carmelites) and Magda Sorel (The Consul), with Detroit’s Opera MODO, the latter of which earned her recognition with a nomination for the 2019 Wilde Award for Best Opera Performance.

As a recitalist and soloist, Nicole has performed frequently with orchestras and chamber festivals across the United States, including acclaimed appearances in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Portland Chamber Orchestra, Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with Oakland Symphony, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with Flint Symphony. An artist with accomplished versatility, and “a voice sweet as fresh water,” Nicole had the honor of performing for the nationally televised Aretha Franklin Tribute Concert held at Aretha Franklin Park in Detroit. Nicole also frequently performs as a choral singer and soloist in many highly acclaimed ensembles, such as the Sphinx Organization’s EXIGENCE Vocal Ensemble, and Conspirare, with whom she received Grammy recognition as a featured soloist on their 2015 award-winning recording, The Sacred Spirit of Russia.

In addition to performing, Nicole has maintained a full private voice studio in the metro-Detroit area. She holds degrees in Voice from the University of Michigan (M.M and Specialist Degree) and Pacific Lutheran University (B.M.).