American mezzo-soprano Alexis Davis-Hazell is a singing actor of opera, concert, and musical theatre in the Southeast United States. Her performances have earned accolades for the size and quality of her instrument, and the dramatic intensity she brings to supporting characters. Among her career highlights are more than 130 performances of The Gershwins’ masterwork Porgy and Bess in opera houses throughout Europe and North America. These performances include critically acclaimed productions at San Francisco Opera, the Dresden SemperOper, Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf, Hamburgische Staatsoper, the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus, the Mikhailovsky Opera in St. Petersburg, the Moscow Philharmonic, the Polish National Opera, the Kuressaare Operadays Festival in Estonia, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
A frequent concert soloist with symphonic ensembles in the southeastern and southwestern U.S., her repertoire includes canonic and newly commissioned works. At the International Alonzo Ortiz Tirado Opera Festival (FAOT) in Álamos, Sonora, Mexico, Alexis was the headline artist in the first full program of African-American spirituals and gospel music with the Coro Ars Antiqua, broadcast live by Radio Sonora (XHMOS 104.1 FM). Alexis originated the role of Rachel in Joseph Landers’ new opera Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, premiered by the Tuscaloosa Symphony, broadcast on Alabama public television in September 2020. Other mainstage appearances include those with Arizona Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Mississippi Opera, Opera Project Columbus, and Cincinnati Opera.
Dr. Davis-Hazell currently serves on the faculty of The University of Alabama School of Music as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies, Assistant Professor of Voice and Lyric Diction, and as a College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Board Faculty Fellow. She holds degrees in Vocal Performance from Temple University (B.M. Hons.) and Arizona State University (M.M., D.M.A.) Dr. Davis-Hazell is currently the National President-Elect of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.