About Me

Elaina Noto is a New York City based mezzo soprano. Her adoration for music is unconditional. Elaina started singing classical music when she attended Fiorello LaGuardia High School. As she progressed in her studies, Miss Noto discovered that her strengths lay in opera and classical voice. Elaina is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance at The Aaron Copland School of Music, under the direction of Dr. Sherry Overholt. In addition to being a music student, she is also a part of the Macaulay Honors College. Outside of school, Elaina sings professionally at The Archdiocese Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, is a substitute church alto, and teaches private music lessons. Her goal as an artist is to create an intrinsic experience where every audience member is uplifted by her storytelling and the physical exuberance she feels when she sings. 

In the 2025 season, Elaina made her professional debut with Opera North New Hampshire. Miss Noto sang the title role of “The Little Prince” in Rachel Portman’s magical opera, The Little Prince. Elaina then performed the role of “Barbarina” in Opera North’s production of Mozart’s, Le Nozze Di Figaro. The Rutland Herald reviewed her performance as both charming and intriguing. In addition to working on Barbarina, she was also covering the role of Cherubino. For her school season, Elaina has been cast as “Angelina” in Rossini’s La Cenerentola. She will be singing this role this coming November. This past spring she played “Nancy" in Britten's comedic opera, Albert Herring. In addition to the main stage, Elaina was a soloist for Bach cantata 196 alongside the Queens College Vocal Ensemble. She was also the alto featured in Mozart’s “Domine Jesu Christie” with the archdiocese choir on their annual “Sounds of Lent” concert. Miss Noto then put together a junior recital program with her two classmates, Zoe Rabinowitz (flute) and Oliver Riviera (piano). The program featured late romantic works to showcase the brilliant music of Gabriel Fauré, Stephano Dounaudy, Claude Debussy, Henri Dutilleux, and Alexander Scriabin. Earlier this season, she was awarded the Demetrios E. Papas Scholarship for church musicians. This scholarship is designed to support young singers on their journey into the professional world. She was also a semi finalist for the James Toland Vocal Arts competition.

For the 2024 season Miss Noto performed the “Sandmann” in Humperdinck's "Hänsel und Gretel.” While working on the Sandman, she was also covering the role of Hänsel. That summer, Elaina attended Classic Lyric Art’s Berkshire intensive to study operatic repertoire by Mozart. She was then an artist for the eleventh annual Music in the Alps festival where she sang on a variety of recitals featuring classical, jazz, and contemporary works. During her time in Austria, Elaina studied with world renowned mezzo soprano, Tammy Hensrud. In the fall semester, Elaina was cast as “Delfa” in Cavalli's Il Giasone. She was also chosen to sing the solo feature in Debussy’s Trios Chansons with the Queen’s College Vocal Ensemble. For her devotion to her studies, Elaina was awarded the Discimus ut Serviamus Award, and the Barkai/Pershing Scholarship from the Aaron Copland School of Music.

In 2023, Elaina made her operatic debut with the Queens Summer Vocal Intensive as “Second Lady” in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Later that season, she was cast as “Bradamante” in the Queens College production of Alcina. Throughout that year, Miss Noto sang in a variety of concerts with The Archdiocese Cathedral, Queens College Vocal Ensemble, and the Queens College Choral Society. At the end of her first year of undergrad, Elaina received the Clair Bartels Freshman Award for her outstanding musical and academic presence.