About Kayla

A considerate nurturer of storytelling, mezzo-soprano Kayla Sconiers is devoted to creating dynamic characters with a touch of individuality, broadening her performance across opera, art song, and musical theater.

In the 2025-26 season, Kayla played the role of Dorothée in the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's opera production of Cendrillon by Jules Massenet. She was recently named the winner of the Kentucky District in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. In the summer of 2026, she will make her company debut at Opera Saratoga, performing the role of Mother in the workshop of Drift by Alyssa Weinberg and covering Mrs. Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady. Additionally, Kayla will cover the role of Zipporah in the world premiere of Lalovavi by Kevin Day.

During the 2024-25 season, she performed as Hermia in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at CCM. In summer 2024, she was a studio artist at the Music Academy of the West. As a two-time recipient of Eastman School of Music’s William Warfield Scholarship, Kayla played Anne in Eastman Opera Theatre’s production of To Hell and Back by Jake Heggie. She has also portrayed Oberto in Handel’s Alcina and covered Paula in Florencia en el Amazonas by Daniel Catán. In 2023, she won the Mary E. Singletary Vocal Arts Competition.

In addition to her musical pursuits, Kayla works as an arts administrator and advocate. She is actively involved in organizations supporting musicians of African descent, such as the Gateways Music Festival and Sphinx. Currently, she serves as the social media manager for Black Collegiate Musicians, an organization with a mission to provide black collegiate musicians access to financial, professional, and mental health resources. They strive to uplift these students by creating a supportive community as they navigate their journeys through higher education. She was the Marketing Intern and Artist for Cincinnati Opera’s 2025 season.

Originally from Lakeland, Florida, Kayla is currently in the master’s program at CCM studying under Dr. Gwendolyn Coleman. She earned her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the Eastman School of Music, where she also received a Catherine Filene Arts Leadership Certificate of Achievement.

In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry, attending orchestra concerts, needlepointing, boxing, biking, hot mat pilates, and exploring new restaurants.