About
Albanian-American mezzo soprano Lauren Maho was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Lauren is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Voice and Opera Performance at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music under the guidance of Theresa Brancaccio. During Northwestern University Opera Theater's 25/26 season, Lauren performed the roles of Taller Zegner Sister in the Chicagoland premiere of Missy Mazzoli's Proving Up, Bianca in Puccini's La rondine, and covered the titular role in Bizet's Carmen. Lauren is a member of the Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble, where she was recently featured as the mezzo soloist in Haydn's Mass for Troubled Times. Lauren is headed to SongFest in Greenville, SC for their 2026 program, where she will participate in masterclasses with Jamie Barton, Martin Katz, and more.
Lauren is an avid competitor in the Chicagoland area and on the national stage. She was recently awarded the Edith Newfield Award (Junior Division top prize) and Farwell Grant Award from the Musicians Club of Women 2026 Vocal Competition. In addition, Lauren was awarded Third Prize in the North Shore Choral Society 2026 Donald Chen Young Artist Competition. She has been deemed a finalist in the Schmidt Vocal Arts 2025 Undergraduate Competition, winning the Williamsburg Choral Guild 2024 Young Artist Competition, qualified for NSA Auditions, placing 3rd with Honors at Mid-Atlantic Regional NATS, and more.
Headshot by Frankie James Photography, LLC
Lauren graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University with her Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from in May 2025, where she studied with Margaret Taylor Woods. During VCU Opera's 24/25 season, Lauren performed as Billie in VCU Opera’s production of Michael Ching’s Speed Dating Tonight, as well as the partial role of Rosina in VCU Opera’s 75th Anniversary Gala in the spring. In December 2024, she was the mezzo soloist of Mozart’s Requiem, a collaboration between VCU Choirs and Symphony. Lauren spent that summer with Taos Opera Institute, working with acclaimed singers including Megan Marino and Suzanne Mentzer. In the 2023-2024 season, Lauren could be seen in the role of Madame de la Haltiere in Massenet’s Cendrillon and partial roles of Carmen and Dame Quickly with VCU Opera. That summer, she sang the roles of La Maestra di Novizie in Suor Angelica, Second Witch in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and covered Ana in Diego Carvalho's The Girl from Ipanema with Vienna Summer Music Festival.
Production Photo by Todd Rosenberg (@toddrphoto)
