About BRB
Blythe Reed-Banks, a native of New Orleans, is a full lyric soprano based out of Tallahassee, FL.
She received her doctorate and master’s degree from FSU, performing “Blanche Dubois” in A Streetcar Named Desire, “Contessa” in Le Nozze di Figaro, “1” in Transformations by Conrad Susa, “Béatrice” in Béatrice et Bénédict and “Mimí” in La Bohème.
She is a previous winner of the Beaulieu Competition and voted Best Female Lead as “Mimí” at Opera in the Ozarks.
Previous roles are “Wanda” in La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein, “Mrs. Schroedinger” in Quantum Mechanic, and “Mrs. Gleaton” in Susanna.
As a soloist, she has sung “Soprano Soloist” in Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony with the FSU orchestra.
Blythe comes from a blue collar family in Metairie, LA. Noticing her tendency to sing along with every song on the radio, her mom put her through piano lessons. She grew up with music by performing in choirs and musicals until her college career.
Blythe studied with Dreux Montegut at Loyola University New Orleans, where she found her love of classical repertoire. After graduating, Blythe began teaching voice and high school choir until she applied to Florida State University.
Since studying with David Okerlund, she found a new passion for vocal pedagogy and research.
While in her master’s degree and doctoral degree, Blythe has performed five major roles, won competitions, and began teaching at the collegiate level through her Graduate Assistantship.
She is currently applying to apprentice and summer programs to bridge the gap between her completed studies and a professional career.
Blythe is excited to continue performing, teaching, and collaborating. More than anything, she is passionate a about making opera a more accessible art form.
Blythe currently resides in Tallahassee, with her husband, Brandon, & their adorable deaf pit bull, Van.
