Bree Nichols is a young American soprano praised for her “rich vocal disposition” (KlasikaPlus) and compelling stage presence. A Fulbright grantee to the Czech Republic, Nichols is known for her sensitive interpretations of Czech vocal music as well as over a dozen operatic roles spanning a diverse repertoire. Her career has taken her to the stages of Symphony of the Mountains, Capitol City Opera, Opera Roanoke, Lewisville Lake Symphony, Opera on the James, Opera Experience Southeast, the Olomouc Baroque Festival, and more. In 2020, she was the winner of the prestigious Presser Award in support of her performance and study of Czech opera. Her recent roles include the title roles of Lucia di Lammermoor and The Bartered Bride as well as Gilda in Rigoletto and Nedda in Pagliacci.

​Off the stage, Nichols is a scholar and innovator in community opera advocacy, where her performance expertise informs her leadership in shaping the next generation of musicians. She is founder and former general director of Stafford Opera Troupe in her hometown of Stafford VA; there she created the Summer Opera Program offering free training and performance opportunities to young singers. Nichols holds a Master of Music degree from University of Georgia and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of North Texas. Her dissertation, culminating in the creation of an anthology of Czech opera arias with corresponding research, translations, and phonetic transcriptions, has galvanized her continuing performance and study of Czech opera and art song in the United States and abroad.

Albums

Tapestry of Voices

Release Date: December 1, 2023
Catalog Number: NV6583
21st Century
Vocal Music
Choir
Piano
Voice
TAPESTRY OF VOICES from Navona Records showcases the versatility and elegance of the human voice woven with grand orchestral statements, colorful choral arrangements, and intimate settings with piano. Eight contemporary composers offer settings of poetry and stories from various cultures throughout human history, from Africa to Europe, North America, and beyond. Threading modern takes on Greek mythology, meditations on concepts of loss, morality, and more, TAPESTRY OF VOICES is exactly as its title suggests — an intricate and artistic convergence of ideas that’s sure to entrance those who experience it.

The Gift of the Magi

Release Date: October 14, 2022
Catalog Number: NV6455
21st Century
Vocal Music
Orchestra
Voice
Composer Richard E Brown and Navona Records present THE GIFT OF THE MAGI, a chamber opera in one act that tells the beloved story — first published by O. Henry in 1905 — of a young married couple who, despite being very poor, sacrifice their most cherished possessions to demonstrate their love for one another. This chamber opera adds even greater breadth to the composer’s output, which has also included works for concert band and orchestra, instrumental solos and ensembles, church music, piano solos, and scores for ballet, opera, and musical theater. The virtuosic performances heard on THE GIFT OF THE MAGI lend a moving emotional dimension to this heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting story of love and sacrifice.