Lyric coloratura soprano Abigail Raiford has been noted for her “powerful, luxurious soprano voice, as well her wonderfully comic way of weeping as the woebegone Elvira” in Tulsa Opera’s 2022 production of Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri. In 2023 she was a District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition for the Tulsa District, received an Incentive Award from the 2022 SAS Performing Arts Company Vocal Competition, and was a finalist in the Emerging Artist Division of the MI Opera Vocal Competition. That same season she joined Central City Opera as a Bonfils-Stanton Studio Artist, performing Krysia in Heggie's Two Remain and Ida in Die Fledermaus. Abigail was also awarded the prestigious Central City Opera Guild's McGlone Award.

A resident and apprentice Artist for multiple seasons with Sarasota Opera, highlights included Second Witch in their 2021 production of Dido & Aeneas and the role of Belinda for family audiences. A former Studio Artist with St. Petersburg Opera, she covered Despina in Così fan tutte and sang Olympia in Davies’ Pinocchio.

Ms. Raiford has won numerous competitions: She won 2nd Prize in the 2021 SAS Performing Arts Company Vocal Competition, was a finalist in the NH Opera Idol Virtual Competition, received a grant from The Career Bridges Foundation and Encouragement Awards in the Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition and in the Student Division of the inaugural Camille Coloratura Awards, and won both the Mannes Concerto Competition and the University of Tulsa Concerto-Aria Competition. As a sister of Sigma Alpha Iota, she was awarded the 2022 Career Performance Grant, allowing her to travel to Rome, Italy and study with the incomparable soprano Mariella Devia.

A noted interpreter of the operas of Mozart, signature roles include the Queen of the Night and First Lady in Die Zauberflöte and Despina in Così fan tutte. Other credits are Rose Maurrant in Street Scene, Anicasia in La Dolorosa, and Yum-Yum in The Mikado.

Her vocalism has thrilled audiences on the concert stage as well, especially in Milhaud’s Chansons de Ronsard with the Mannes Orchestra, Carmina Burana with Emory University Symphony and Choir, and John Mackey’s Songs From the End of the World with the University of Tulsa Wind Ensemble. Upcoming performances include her debut with Handel Choir of Baltimore in Messiah.

She earned a Master of Music degree from the Mannes School of Music as a student of Amy Burton, and received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Tulsa, under the tutelage of her mother, Judith Pannill Raiford.