American soprano Candace Williams is a 2025 member of the Sherril Milnes VOICE studio in conjunction with the Savannah Voice Festival. She has studied and performed a variety of roles, including the title role of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha, Norina (Don Pasquale), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Constance (Dialogues des Carmelites) and more. She has often appeared as a chorus member with the Cincinnati Opera, most recently in the staged world premier of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio. With a specific passion for community engagement efforts and contemporary stories, Candace has also worked with Cincinnati Opera on a variety of outreach performances and workshops, including the title role of César Cui’s Little Red as a part of their collaboration with Roundabout Opera for Kids:Cincy. She was also recently a part of Missy Mazzoli’s workshop for her new opera, Lincoln in the Bardo, in preparation for its 2026 premiere at the Metropolitan Opera. Candace has won two encouragement awards at the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition at the district level, and is a recent winner of the Operatic Aria Prize at the 2024 George Shirley Vocal Competition. She returned in 2025 to bring home the Harry T. Burleigh Art Song Prize and the Patrice Eaton 2nd place Spiritual Prize. Candace holds an Artist Diploma in Opera Performance from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from University of Kentucky, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Oakwood University.