Evelyn laquaif

"Commanding a rich, velvety middle voice that brightens into vibrant, ringing high notes; outstanding among the stars of today" is what this Canadian born soprano started her career out with according to the press. She made her Canadian debut as the fiery Tosca in her hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Ms. La Quaif, who is an English Major, holds both a Dramatic Arts degree and a four-octave range, made the unheard of switch from a very successful rock 'n roll, nightclub, and jingle singer to grand opera. Since then she has acquired a repertoire of more than twenty roles that include La Boheme (both roles) Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Mascagni’s rare Isabeau in the verismo repertoire, the romantics of La Traviata, Rigoletto, Faust, Les Contes D 'Hoffman (3 roles), to the rare bel canto stylings of Maria Stuarda, Norma, Anna Bolena, La Sonnambula, and Lucia di Lammermoor. Also included in her vast repertoire are Britten's War Requiem and the U.S. premier of Gounod's La Reine de Saba. Ms. La Quaif is an accomplished stage and television actress, has had ten years classical ballet training, was an accomplished figure skater, and is a master horsewoman. Evelyn studied voice with Richard Fredricks and John Alexander of the Metropolitan Opera and worked with a number of well-known coaches such as Joan Dornamann, Gildo Di Nunzio, Otto Guth, and her personal favorite, Alberta Masiello.

 She has appeared at all the major concert halls such as Weill Recital, Carnegie, Town Hall, and Alice Tully in New York. Ms. La Quaif sang Constanze in Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serai! with the Vienna Volks Oper and Norma with the Teatro Biondo in Palermo. She has also performed with the Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Milwaukee Operas and appeared with the Boston, Hawaii, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Hartford symphonies. Ms. La Quaif has appeared in a number of Canadian television dramatic productions and has appeared in over 100 television shows.

Evelyn teaches singing (pop, Broadway, Country, and opera) and speaks a number of languages. She has added opera directing to her resume and has staged La Boheme, Merry Widow, Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci, La Traviata, Tosca, Lucia di Lammermoor, Elisir d’amore, Die Fledermaus, Ballo in Maschera, Madama Butterfly, Aida, and Rigoletto to name a few. Ms. La Quaif is also in great demand along with her adopted mother, Metropolitan opera diva, Lucine Amara in the master class venue working in Canada, the US, Mexico, and Australia. She also coaches singers and actors privately at her home in Manhattan. Evelyn’s private studio is in great demand with Broadway and Soap Opera stars. She has worked with singers from Les Miserables, Secret Garden, and Prince and the Pauper to name a few. Her masterful expertise as a singer, director, and coach in all music forms puts her in great demand. Ms. La Quaif’s students come from all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe to study with her. She is at present conducting master classes in New York City for Broadway and pop singer/actors. 

Currently Ms. La Quaif was co-owner of the Verismo Opera Company which produced two operas a year in Englewood, New Jersey. In April of 2016 she directed La Gioconda and Rigoletto in October. In 2019 she directed Aida and Turandot.

Since her singing career began, Ms. La Quaif has received much acclaim from the press. Her fire and stage presence has more than once been compared to the great Maria Callas. Ms. La Quaif’s work is available on YouTube and/or her personal website. 

Evelyn La Quaif

260 West End Avenue

Apartment 7A

New York, NY 10023-3659

(212) 580-8519

(646) 320-8013

divaevelyn@yahoo.com