Ola Rafało, a Polish-American mezzo has been called a

"Vocal Powerhouse",and "a Budding next Cossotto", by critics.

“Ola Rafało proved to be a mezzo to watch, with a

strong Stride la Vampa” said Anne Midgette, for the

Washington Post, of The Washington Chorus’ Essential

Verdi concert, at the Kennedy Center. There, Rafało was

featured in scenes as Azucena, and Amneris. 

“A Mezzo with great promise”, Tim Smith, Baltimore Sun

(Nabucco, Opera Baltimore). 

Upcoming engagements include Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana

with Opera Forza in New York City, Ola’s debut with

Chicago Opera theatre as Tsyganka in Aleko, her debut

with the Israel Philharmonic singing Emilia in Verdi's Otello under

Maestro Gianandrea Noseda, and a recital in the

prestigious Dame Myrna Hess Memorial concert series in Chicago,

broadcast on WFMT.

Other career highlights include the title role in

La Tragedie de Carmen with Syracuse Opera, to great acclaim.

Opera Times said she “established her character immediately

as a seductress par excellence, and her pitch in the devious

Seguidilla was incredibly accurate — with no sign of seams

when navigating through vocal registers during the spacious

octave leaps that permeate this demanding aria.” As well as

the title role in Bizet’s Carmen in several productions: New

Jersey Verismo Opera, Gulfshore Opera, the Lyric Orchestra,

and Carmen highlights in concert with the Pacific Symphony. 

She was also featured in several productions as Fenena in

Nabucco (Baltimore Lyric Opera, Opera Carolina), “Rafało

produced the best singing of the evening, in spite of her role

being smaller. "– Luiz Gazzola of Opera Lively. Ola has also

performed the role of Azucena in Il Trovatore with Opera

Forza, the role of Charlotte in Werther with Martha Cardona

Opera, at the Kaufman Center, the Mother in Menotti’s

Amahl and the Night Visitors, (Orlando Opera), Maddalena

in Rigoletto, , Gulfshore Opera, as well as created the principal

female role in a unique production combining theatre, opera,

dance, circus, and other elements entitled Opera Wars with

Opera del Sol. Ola received an award from UNESCO for her

performancein the role of Alkmene in the Olympic Torch,

(a modern Greek opera by P. Karousos). She sang Fricka in Die Walkure

and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with the Lyric Orchestra.

Other Concert highlights include Carnegie Hall as the Alto

soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria, and soloist in De Falla’s

El Amor Brujo with the Pacific Symphony, under Maestro Carl St.Clair,

which she sang with a “fine dusky quality”-L.A. Times. Ola returned to Gulfshore

Opera for the Legends of Opera Gala featuring Samuel Ramey.

She also was featured in the Arabian Nights concert with the

Springfield Symphony, as well as many Galas, with Gulfshore opera,

under Maestro Paul Nadler, and in Italy at Teatro Curci in the province

of Bari. Miss Rafalo was featured in a Verdi gala at the Altamura Center

for the performing arts, followed by a "world peace" concert tour of Poland.

She joined the Paderewski symphony several times for their and

Karnaval Concert, as well as the American premier of the Poniatowski Mass,

an important work of Polish history and music.

Ms. Rafało,is fluent in Polish, English and Italian. She carries dual passports

for the U.S. and Poland. She is a natural interpreter of

the slavic repertoire, in roles such as Olga in Eugene Onegin,

Konchakovna in Prince Igor, Pollina in Queen of Spades,

Ioanna in Orleanskaya Deva, and Jadwiga in Straszny Dwor.

Other roles in her diverse repertoire include Adalgisa in Norma, Venus in Tannhauser,

and Dalilah in Samson et Dalilah.

 Miss Rafało was an apprentice artist Palm Beach Opera,

Opera Tampa, and Sarasota Opera, where

she received the Leo M.Rogers award. Ola is the 2nd prize winner of the 2017

Altamura-Caruso competition. In 2015 Ola was awarded the

Fourth Prize and the Audience choice award from the Young

Patronesses of Opera Competition. She has been selected for the Giulietta Simionato

career grant from the Inter-city Arts foundation. In 2009, she was awarded the audience

prize at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions,

Southeast chapter. In 2008, she was awarded Grand Prize

of the Elgin Opera competition and First Prize of the

Sherrill Milnes Opera Idol competition.