The American mezzo-soprano Tichina Vaughn has been internationally acclaimed as an artist of consummate vocal beauty, dramatic power, and versatility. While still a student at the North Carolina School of the Arts, she was named a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, making her one of the first North Carolina natives to achieve national success in the competition. On graduation she became a member of the Metropolitan Opera Studio, making her debut at the Met in Porgy and Bess and singing roles in La traviata, and Rigoletto. Since 1998 she has been an ensemble member of the Stuttgart State Opera, where she has appeared in roles including those of Azucena in Il trovatore, Princess Eboli in Don Carlos and Amneris in Aida, as well as Fricka in Die Walküre, and Waltraute in Die Götterdämmerung. Other roles in Stuttgart have included Erda in Das Rheingold, Venus in Tannhäuser, Herodias in Salome, and Cornelia in Handel's Giulio Cesare. In addition to her successes in Stuttgart, she continues to establish herself as a major vocal presence on some of the most important operatic and concert stages in the world with appearances at major houses in Italy, in the United States and throughout Europe. Her concert engagements have also brought collaborations with the most distinguished conductors and colleagues. Tichina Vaughn has been honored with many awards including the Metropolitan Opera Award and the Richard Tucker Study Grant Award.