Nadia Aguilar

Behind the voice

"Aguilar was perfectly cast as Rosina. Small and pretty, the Mexican-born soprano had both the voice and characterization to fully inhabit a character that is often fairly hollow. For starters, she clearly delighted in the florid coloratura of her role, and she projected a sense of true pleasure in the most technical roulades, often batting her eyes and beaming at the end of phrases. Her animated expressions, her asides and double takes, brought the comedy to life." - Milton Moore.​

Nadia Aguilar is a Mexican-born soprano, scholar, and educator. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The Hartt School and both a Master of Music degree and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Connecticut. Her scholarly work focuses on 19th-century Mexican opera, with particular emphasis on the restoration and study of Romeo, an opera by Mexican composer Melesio Morales.

An accomplished performer, Dr. Aguilar has appeared in a wide range of operatic roles, including the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Leonora in Beautiful Bridegroom by Dan Shore, Elle in Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine, Euridice in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, Mrs. Fiorentino in Weill’s Street Scene, the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Rosina in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème. She has also been featured as a soloist in major choral works, including Handel’s Messiah, Fauré’s Requiem, and Vivaldi’s Gloria and Magnificat.

Dr. Aguilar brings over a decade of experience teaching both privately and at the collegiate level. She previously taught voice, acting, and foreign-language diction in the opera departments at The Hartt School and the University of Connecticut. She is currently a full-time professor at the Manchester campus of CT State Community College, where she teaches voice, ear training, and music appreciation, and serves as director of the chorale ensemble.

In addition to her work as a performer and educator, Dr. Aguilar is a dedicated arts advocate. She is a former member of the board of directors of Opera Connecticut, where she served as Associate Artistic Director, and she is an active member of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).