Biography
Praised for her "ethereal coloratura" and "clear, powerful, expressive voice," lyric coloratura soprano Alissa Roca is a fearless and multifaceted performer who brings passion, precision, and imagination to every stage she graces. Whether interpreting classic coloratura roles, shaping new works from the ground up, or reimagining what opera can be, she is an artist defined by curiosity and authenticity. Alissa is especially known for her work in contemporary music, where she has carved out a unique space as both an interpreter and creator. She has premiered dozens of works, including full-length operas, concert dramas, and art songs—some of which feature her own poetic texts. Her collaborations with living composers such as Joseph Thalken, Jesper Koch, Michael Daugherty, Rachel Dean, Marissa Simmons, Dana Kaufman, and Akshaya Tucker reflect her commitment to vibrant, forward-thinking musical storytelling.
She has appeared as a soloist with ensembles and companies across the country, including the Dallas Opera, Dallas Symphony, Dallas Winds, Opera on the James, Opera Fayetteville, Voices of Change, Mallarmé Music, Durham Symphony, the Miami Bach Society, Capital Wind Symphony, University of Texas New Music Ensemble, and Duke University. Equally at home on operatic stages, Alissa has portrayed roles including The Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute), Adina (L’elisir d’amore), Susannah (Susannah), Mabel, Josephine, Yum-Yum, Patience, Angelina and Rose Maybud (Gilbert & Sullivan), among many others.
A dedicated advocate for accessible and relevant opera, Alissa is the founder and Artistic Director of Paradox Opera, a North Carolina-based company focused on playfully irreverent, emotionally rich opera experiences. Under her leadership, PXO has produced inventive performances that blend rigorous musicianship with a fresh theatrical approach. She recently originated the role of The Seraph in Don Giovanni (Abridged!), a cheeky English-language adaptation that premiered in the Raleigh Fringe Festival and was streamed live online to a global audience.
Her passion for opera education and outreach has been a central part of her career. She spent three seasons starring in The Dallas Opera’s touring productions, bringing fully staged operas like Bastien and Bastienne and Pépito to thousands of young people across Texas—an experience that deepened her commitment to making opera inviting and relevant to new audiences.
Alissa began her musical journey in choirs and studied piano and flute before discovering her love of opera through her work with Opera Naples. She holds a Master of Music and Performer’s Diploma from Southern Methodist University, and a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.
Whether performing a Mozart aria, premiering a brand-new score, or creating an entirely new operatic experience, Alissa brings a rare blend of vocal brilliance, theatrical insight, and visionary leadership to her work.
