Nora Frances Drake is a native of Greenville, Pennsylvania and has performed extensively in the Greenville area and beyond.

In May of 2001 Ms. Drake received a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance, Magna Cum Laude, from Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA. While attending Westminster College she had the opportunity to play Countess Almaviva in Excerpts from The Marriage of Figaro, Soprano in Tom Johnson’s A Four Note Opera, and the title role of Bastienne from Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne.

In July of 2001 Nora participated in the Opera, Theatre, and Music Festival of Lucca, Italy. While abroad she performed both scenes and solo pieces in several concerts and she also played a supporting role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

Ms. Drake graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2004 with a Master of Music degree in Opera Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. As a student Nora was honored to be a finalist in the annual NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) competition, fall 2003. She made her UT main stage debut as Nella in Gianni Schicchi and has performed the roles of Mimì, Ariadne, and Lakmé in scenes from Puccini’s La Bohème, Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos, and Delibes’ Lakmé. In May of 2004 Nora performed the role of La Reina de Saba in the American premiere of Luis Jaime Cortez’s La Tentación de San Antonio. Her portrayal earned her a nomination for the 2004 Austin Critics Table Award for Best Female Singer.

Most recently Ms. Drake has had the privilege to perform as guest recitalist for concerts at the University of Minnesota, a result of an astounding 15 year partnership with pianist Dr. Matthew D. McCright.

Concert credits include the soprano solos in Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit, Orff’s Catulli Carmina, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Mozart’s Requiem and Missa Solemnis in C, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Brahms’ Requiem.

Nora has studied under the tutelage of Darlene Wiley, Rose Taylor, and Janet Kane. She has been fortunate to coach with UT professors Robert DeSimone and David Neely as well as Lorenzo Malfatti, internationally recognized voice and opera coach, who is Professor Emeritus at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music.

Ms. Drake currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.