Musical Roots

An enterprising, skilled, and extraordinarily gifted Dramatic Mezzo Soprano, Karmesha discovered her affinity for music at the age of five singing in the youth choir at Taylortown African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Throughout the early years of her musical journey, Karmesha secured a coveted invitation to take part in Kentucky’s high-standing Governor’s School for the Arts among only 200 students in the entire state. The program exposed her to other talented young artists and afforded her the opportunity to study under accomplished and notable vocal teachers; a performance by Angela M. Brown, an African American dramatic soprano, inspired Karmesha to devote her life to music.    

Karmesha trained at the University of Kentucky obtaining both a Master’s and Bachelor’s in Music Performance.  During her collegiate tenure, Karmesha performed the roles of Mrs. Quickly in Verdi’s Falstaff, Mrs. Harrow in The Power of Xingu, and stunned audiences as the Strawberry Woman in George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.  

She returns often to her Kentucky roots to speak to students regarding the triumphs and possibilities of pursuing a career in music which has expanded to include schools within the NYC area.

Recent Appearances

Karmesha resides in New York City where she has established herself as a formidable artist in the thriving music community and is one of the world’s outstanding Dramatic Mezzo Sopranos. Continuing to hold a position as a member of the renowned Metropolitan Opera (Extra) Chorus she has been part of the Grammy Award winning casts of Fire Shut Up in My Bones and Champion, both written by composer Terence Blanchard. Additional roles have included Azucena in Il Trovatore, Beppe in L’Amico Fritz, Erda in Siegfried, and many more.

Further, Karmesha has appeared as a featured soloist for Grace Chorale of Brooklyn in their recent performance of Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, and Marianna Martines' Dixit Dominus. She was a featured soloist in CUNY Grad Center’s Music in Midtown concert series and in Classics with a Twist at the inaugural Context Conference hosted at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.

Honing Her Craft

A graduate of the University of Kentucky receiving both a Summa Cum Laude Bachelor of Music Performance and Master of Music Performance, Karmesha has remained lifelong student of the artform. In recent years, Karmesha has been afforded the opportunity to receive instruction and participate in workshops with some of the industry’s most renowned and revered talents. Among her teachers and coaches are Janinah Burnett, Scott Carlton, Jane Bunnell, Wilhelmenia Fernandez, Cliff Jackson, William R. Lewis, and Lauren Flanigan. She has participated in masterclasses conducted by Chuck Hudson, Ryan Taylor, Priscilla Baskerville, Cynthia Lawrence, and Morris Robinson. Karmesha has also performed under the direction of John Doyle and Francesca Zambello.

The Horizon

At the core of Karmesha’s portfolio of music, her passion has been dedicated to giving voice to the premiere works of African American composer such as Damien Geter’s An African American Requiem, which premiered to rave reviews with the Oregon Symphony and at the Kennedy Center.

In addition to her operatic work, Karmesha maintains a concert and recital schedule that has taken her around the world with debuts in Holland, France, Copenhagen, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, Israel, and Switzerland.

From the sacred spaces of the African American religious experience to palatial opera houses around the world, Karmesha K. Peake is a New York City based American Dramatic Mezzo Soprano with a rich, velvet voice of euphony, charisma, and spiritual invitation. 

Karmesha serves as an Arch Angel Productions Board Member.