S i g m a A l p h a I o t a
A n n u a l F r at e r n i t y Awa r d s
FALL 2022
40
FALL 2022
40
S i g m a A l p h a I o t a
Annual Philanthropies Awards
C A REER
P ERFO R M A N C E G R A NT
I N M E M O RY O F V E R N A
RO SS O R N D O R F F
ABIGAIL RAIFORD
N e w Y o r k A l u m n a e , P h i B ,
R e g i o n V I I I
L
yric coloratura soprano Abigail Raiford is passionate
about performing in opera as well as other classical
venues. She is a 2017 graduate of the University
of Tulsa, where she was initiated into the Sigma Gamma
Chapter, and earned her Masters of Music at the Mannes
School in 2019. Currently a member of the New York City
Alumnae chapter, she resides in Queens and performs in
various venues in the New York City area. Her teachers
and coaches include Judith Pennell Raiford, Amy Burton,
Joshua Greene, Neal Goren, Lindsay Woodward, and Doug
Han. She won second prize in the 2021 SAS Performing
Arts Company Vocal Competition, was a finalist in the
New Hampshire Opera Idol Virtual Competition, and
semifinalist and winner of the Encouragement Award in
the 2019 Camille Coloratura Awards. She has performed
with the Sarasota Opera for three seasons as an apprentice
artist, sung with the St. Petersburg Opera Company, and
was a Bonfils-Stanton Studio Artist with the Central City,
Colorado Opera in summer 2022. is fall she will sing
the role of Elvira in Rossini's L'Italiana in Algeri with the
Tulsa Opera. Abigail plans to use her grant funds for travel
to Rome, Italy for study with Mariella Devia, and also for
further study and coaching in the US. You can read more
about her work at: www.abigailraifordsoprano.com
