Musical Roots

Karmesha K. Peake discovered her love for music at just five years old, singing in the youth choir at Taylortown AME Zion Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Her musical journey took flight when she was selected to attend the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts, where she trained with master vocalists and was profoundly inspired by a recital performance from celebrated soprano Angela M. Brown.

Karmesha continued her vocal studies at the University of Kentucky, performing roles such as Mrs. Quickly in Verdi’s Falstaff, Mrs. Harrow in The Power of Xingu, and the Strawberry Woman in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

A passionate educator and mentor, Karmesha remains closely connected to the GSA community, engaging students in honest conversations about the joys and challenges of pursuing a life in music.

Recent Appearances

Based in New York City, Karmesha K. Peake is a formidable presence in the city's vibrant music scene. She is a member of the renowned Metropolitan Opera Supplementary Chorus, appearing in Grammy Award–winning productions of Fire Shut Up in My Bones and Champion by composer Terence Blanchard.

Her operatic credits include performances with Hudson River Opera, where she has taken on roles such as Azucena in Il Trovatore, Beppe in L’Amico Fritz, and Erda in Siegfried, among others.

Karmesha is a frequent featured soloist with Grace Chorale of Brooklyn, where she has performed Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Marianna Martines’ Dixit Dominus. She has also appeared as a soloist in the CUNY Graduate Center’s Music in Midtown concert series and in Classics with a Twist at the inaugural Context Conference hosted by the Eastman School of Music.

Honing Her Craft

A proud graduate of the University of Kentucky, Karmesha K. Peake holds both a Bachelor and Master of Music in Vocal Performance, each awarded summa cum laude. A dedicated lifelong learner, she continues to refine her craft through study and collaboration with some of the industry’s most respected artists.

Her teachers and coaches have included baritone Michael Chioldi, the late soprano Wilhelmenia Fernandez, and acclaimed pianist Cliff Jackson. She has participated in masterclasses with Chuck Hudson, Ryan Taylor, Priscilla Baskerville, Cynthia Lawrence, and Morris Robinson, and has performed under the direction of celebrated directors John Doyle and Francesca Zambello.

The Horizon

At the heart of Karmesha K. Peake’s artistic mission is a deep commitment to elevating the works of African American composers. A signature piece in her repertoire is Damien Geter’s An African American Requiem, a powerful fusion of the traditional Latin requiem mass with spirituals and texts addressing racial violence against African Americans, incorporating civil rights declarations and poetry, including the last words of Eric Garner ("I can't breathe") and a line from a poem by Antwon Rose ("I am confused and afraid"). The piece also features texts by Ida B. Wells and Jamilia Land. Karmesha performed in its highly acclaimed premieres with the Oregon Symphony and at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—an historic work hailed for its emotional gravity and cultural significance.

In addition to her operatic and choral work, Karmesha maintains an active concert and recital schedule that has brought her to audiences across the globe, including in Holland, France, Copenhagen, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, Israel, and Switzerland.

From the sacred spaces of the African American religious tradition to some of the world’s grandest concert halls, Karmesha brings to each stage the power and presence of a dramatic mezzo-soprano with what one reviewer described as a “rich, velvet voice of euphony, charisma, and spiritual invitation.”

Karmesha also serves on the Board of Directors for Arch Angel Productions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting and preserving the African American Spiritual.