Angela Brown
Growing up in Indianapolis, Angela Brown had more obstacles than opportunities to become a leading opera star. She was raised in an impoverished neighborhood and although she was exposed to music, she was never professionally prepared. Her only experience and tutoring were from her family, especially her mother. Her mother used to sing but her career in the arts was ephemeral; she married eleven days after her high school graduation. Her real experience came from the church. She joined the church choir and started singing gospel music. Since then, Angela Brown committed herself to make it in the world through her talented voice.
She started singing and developing her voice at the age of five. She later went on to Oakwood College. The college was predominantly colored people who all sought a future in singing. Ironically, Angela Brown was very displeased with the classical music. At first, she yearned to sing gospel music for the remainder of her life. but her hatred of the classical music would become her passion.Her hatred does not become her passion. One of her rivals acknowledged that Angela could sing classical music with a flair that sets her apart from the rest. At that point, classical music won the tug-of-war.
Angela’s views of classical music began to change. She started to practice classical music and began to enjoy it. She auditioned at the annual metropolitan arts competition which sent the top voices to New York to practice in the renowned Metropolitan Opera House. On her first three attempts, she won on the district level. It was 1997, on her fourth attempt, she was chosen as one of the ten winners and went to New York. The competition was fierce but Angela finally made it.
Angela was hired as a cover for three seasons with the MET opera house. She was finally able to make her presence known to the world in 2004. On October 29, 2004, Angela filled in for Aida. She put her heart into the performance and sang as she had never sang before. Her performance was so impressive that she was offered eleven covers and two performances. The front page of the New York Times raved that the MET had “finally found an Aida”. As Angela said, “she finally caught up to her vision”.