Makeda Hampton

“My inspiration is rooted in the desire to elevate the voices and stories of my ancestors, blending classical vocal music with the rich musical traditions of the African Diaspora.”

Growing up, soprano Makeda Hampton never foresaw a life as a professional musician. “Music-making was something my family and I enjoyed casually, not as a conscious catalyst for a career path.” But early on, there was a rich variety of musical influences that surrounded her – gospel, spirituals, a cappella, jazz, and classical – although she “didn’t fully recognize their impact until much later.”

Hampton grew up in New Castle, in a family that frequently sang together at home and at church. At her high school boarding academy, Hampton sang in the concert choir and studied music, but it wasn’t until she attended college that she was introduced to the world of opera. She had originally planned to pursue STEM studies (her family background), but during her freshman year a voice-major friend gave her a recording featuring legendary operatic sopranos. “That 90-minute CD was a game-changer,” opening her to the beauty of opera and “launching me into a journey of vocal discovery.”