Praised for her “exquisitely beautiful tone and faultless intonation” and “masterful performing” (Tuesday Musicale Detroit), soprano Amber Cierra Merritt has garnered a rich career across multiple genres. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Merritt’s operatic stage experience includes a large array of works, including Edmonia in the world premiere of William Banfield’s Edmonia, 1st Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote, the Sparrow in Okoye’s Bre’r Rabbit and the Tar Baby, and Little Emile (cover) in Blanchard’s Champion at the Kennedy Center. 

Merritt’s extensive and vibrant concert portfolio has brought collaborations as the featured soloist for two PBS Specials United in Song: Celebration of American Roots and One Voice: American Roots in 2021. This spring, Merritt will be debuting with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra as the title role in Edmonia. In the summer of 2021, Merritt was a solo artist in recordings for An Anthology of African & African Diaspora Songs, which are featured on Thomas Hampson’s Song of America and the African Diaspora Project websites. 

Recently, Merritt has won numerous awards and competitions, such as 1st Place in NATS: Spiritual Category at the National Level, 1st Place in NATS: Advanced Category & Spiritual Category at the Great Lakes Regional Level, and 3rd Place in the Pleiades Projects’ Black Brilliance Competition. 

Merritt is currently in the final year of her Specialist in Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theater, & Dance, where she graduated with her Master’s Degree in 2021, as a student of Dr. Louise Toppin. Merritt received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2019 at the University of Maryland, College Park, under the tutelage of Jennifer Casey Cabot. In addition to Amber’s dynamic stage and concert success, she also has experience as an audio engineer and producer. Her keen musicianship has made her a versatile vocalist not only in classical music, but also in R&B and jazz. Amber hopes to fuse together her love of R&B and opera to create an exciting new genre for audiences to enjoy.