Melissa Wimbish, soprano

In the world-premiere of Josephine with UrbanArias, “... the afternoon belonged to Melissa Wimbish, who was creating the role of Josephine Baker ... Beautifully prepared, vocally stunning, and theatrically riveting, Wimbish effortlessly held the audience in her hand throughout this one-woman show.” (Washington Post) She made her Carnegie Hall solo recital debut after winning the NATS Artist Award Grand Prize.

Melissa’s work is relentless in variety, spanning traditional, contemporary, and popular styles. Career highlights include Mysteries of the Macabre and Candide with Baltimore Symphony, Nimue in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Camelot, Carmina Burana and A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Washington Ballet at The Kennedy Center, Brahms’ Requiem with The 13 Ensemble, Mozart’s Requiem with Richmond Symphony, and a self-produced recital film for the INVISION recital series which the Baltimore Sun called “sensational and groundbreaking."

In the 2021-22 season, Melissa made her soloist debut with the Vermont Symphony, premiered 20 Minutes of Action by Jessica Meyer with Sandbox Percussion Ensemble at Yellow Barn’s Chamber Music Residency, performed the role of Stella-Rondo in the world-premiere of Why I Live at the P.O. at the Keegan Theatre, produced and performed Release the Gowns: An album release event by Outcalls at The Voxel Theater, and made her National Sawdust debut in Britten’s Les Illuminations at ChamberQUEER Festival.

Melissa lives in Baltimore and co-leads the pop duo, Outcalls who have been dubbed the “reigning queens of Baltimore’s music scene” by Baltimore Magazine. They released their third studio album, Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 in spring 2022. Learn more at melissawimbish.com.