Biography
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Rayna Mia Campbell is a Japanese–African American soprano whose work blends classical tradition with personal storytelling. She performs across opera, art song, and contemporary repertoire, with a deep interest in music that invites emotional nuance, character depth, and authentic connection between artist and audience. Whether on stage or in recital, she brings care, clarity, and a respect for the human stories at the heart of the music.
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Born and raised in Belleville, Illinois, Rayna’s earliest exposure to music came through piano lessons and local choir programs. She found in music both structure and imagination, an outlet for creativity and a way of listening and engaging with the world. From 2014-2017, she was fortunate to participate in the Artist-in-Training program at Opera Theatre of St. Louis, where she was awarded the Monsanto Award (now Bayer) her final year. This formative experience helped shape her passion and foundation in opera, leading her to further her education.
She received her Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, studying with Shirley Close. While at MSM, she served as President of the Black Student Union and was honored with the Janet D. Schenck Award, given to students who demonstrate distinguished contributions to the life of the school. She went on to earn her Master of Music and Professional Studies Certificate at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, under the guidance of César Ulloa, supported by the Carol and Dixon Doll Scholarship.
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Rayna has appeared in a wide range of operatic roles, spanning early Baroque to 20th-century works. In 2023, she performed Drusilla in L’incoronazione di Poppea with West Edge Opera, where she was praised for her “nimble, clear soprano” and a performance that “sparkled” (San Francisco Classical Voice). She returned to the company in 2024 for their Snapshot program, showcasing new operatic works.
That same year, she performed the West Coast premiere of Death of a Little Girl with Doves, a dramatic song cycle by Jeremy Beck inspired by the life and art of Camille Claudel, presented as a result of her First Place win in the 2023 San Francisco Conservatory of Music Concerto Competition.
Learn more about Death of a Little Girl with Doves!
Other notable performances include Magda Sorel in The Consul, Vitellia in La clemenza di Tito, Silvia in Zanetto, and Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring, where she was praised for her “radiant soprano” (South Florida Classical Review).
Some of her accolades include an Encouragement Award from the 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Third Place in the 2022 SFCM Concerto Competition, and consistent support from the Buder Foundation from 2017–2024.
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Rayna is particularly drawn to contemporary vocal music and interdisciplinary collaborations, with an emphasis on championing works by women and artists of color. She is also a dedicated educator, having taught with Reaching for the Arts in New York City and on the voice/piano faculty at Little Mission Studio in San Francisco. Her teaching emphasizes vocal health, expressive freedom, and the belief that singing is a personal and collaborative practice.
In addition to her artistic work, Rayna is a co-founder of Teens for Opera at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, an initiative aimed at making opera accessible to young audiences. She was also a featured participant at SphinxConnect 2020, a national convening focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in classical music.
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Across all aspects of her work, Rayna is dedicated to fostering an environment of honesty, curiosity, and community. She believes the artist’s role is not just to perform, but to listen, reflect, and connect.
Since 2017, she’s made monthly playlists as a personal ritual. What started as a quiet check-in has become a joyful habit: a way to stay curious, discover new sounds, and keep her ears open to everything music can be.
