IN UNISON Graduate Fellow

Coloratura Soprano, Alayna Nicole is a St. Louis native artist, actress, and speaker. She graduated from the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Degree, with a Distinction in Creativity in the Arts. During her academic career at UMSL, Alayna was a member

of the UMSL Opera Theater, where she trained as a coloratura soprano. She performed the roles of Mabel in the National Opera Association, award-winning productions of Pirates of Penzance, and Monica in Menotti’s The Medium under the direction of professor and vocal coach Dr. Stella Markou. Alayna has also shared the honor of performing in Carnegie Hall and as a guest performer with grammy-award-winning legends such as Stevie Wonder in the Songs in the Key of Life Tour (2015) and Barry Manilow in MANILOW: The Last St. Louis Concert (2024). Also, in her UMSL tenure, she was awarded first place in several competitions such as the NATS Classical Division in the St. Louis Regionals in 2019, 2020, and the 2020 College Division of the UMSL Young Artist Competition. Alayna Nicole has had the privilege to be coached privately by award-winning Trinidadian Soprano Jeanine De Bique.

Alayna is a professional vocalist with experience in many genres and occasions, such as weddings, funerals, conferences, and more. Alayna has been a featured artist all over the St. Louis area in positions such as a Principal Artist in the St. Louis Women’s Chorale and as a St. Louis Symphony Orchestra IN UNISON Scholar. As an actress, Alayna featured as a cameo in the short film “An Intimate Christmas,” which debuted on PBS in 2021. Also, in 2021, Alayna Nicole was honored to speak as a panelist to 6th through 9th graders at Wuhan Maple Leaf National School for their Career Exploration Seminar in Wuhan, China. In the summer of 2024 Alayna Nicole made her international debut as a featured soloist in the Vox Amina London Festival of Church Music with the St. Louis Festival Chorus on their London and Dublin Tour.

Currently, Alayna serves as manager and member of the Young Artists in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra IN UNISON Chorus 2024-25 season and as the Worship Leader at her church, Agape Time Ministries, Inc. – City of Refuge (ATMI). During the eight years Alayna has been at ATMI, she has been trained and developed as a psalmist and a teacher of the word of God. Alayna believes her purpose is to shine God’s light here on earth through music and acts of love. To help heal the city of St. Louis through music, Alayna is pursuing her master’s in music therapy at Maryville University to become a board-certified Music Therapist and serve families in the St. Louis Community.

“Being an SLSO IN UNISON Fellow has allowed me to explore and further develop professional skills that I will need in my future as a musician, music therapist, and entrepreneur. I am grateful to have grown in the areas of time management, communication, administration, and diplomacy due to the opportunities and community of the SLSO.”