Iowa native Daryn Imani Nowlin is a mezzo-soprano and recent M.Mus graduate from the University of Western Ontario. She has received two B.A. degrees in vocal performance and English with a minor in creative writing from Graceland University. Her performed opera roles include Angelina/Cenerentola from La Cenerentola, the Witch from Hansel and Gretel, La Ciesca and the Notaio from Gianni Schicchi, and Zulma from L’italiana in Algeri. She was also a resident artist for Opérafest in Toronto, portraying Cenerentola and Adalgisa from Norma in the final scenes concert. She was a winner of the Marista Brookes Concerto Competition in 2023 where she had the opportunity to perform Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder with the Western Symphony Orchestra in 2024, a London Opera Guild scholarship recipient, and was granted the Ralph Appelmann, Irma Cooper Award for being the overall winner of her division in the 2024 NATS Regionals Competition. She also received the honor of being nominated for the Forest City London Music Awards in the category for Classical Music.

 In addition to opera, Daryn has been the alto soloist for Handel’s Messiah and Considering Matthew Shepard at First St. Andrews church, the alto soloist for Mozart’s Requiem with the Beal Singers and London Symphonia, a featured soloist with pianist Angela Park, a featured soloist in the “Celebrate Women” recital with pianist Megaria Halim, a featured soloist for Western’s Homecoming Recital for alumni, and a featured soloist for the London Opera Guild recital. She also gave a performing lecture at Western University on her SSHRC funded summer research project “American Female Contemporary Composers.”

Daryn also has a performing background in musical theater and plays. While attending Graceland University, she portrayed Velma Kelly in Chicago, Molly Jensen in Ghost, Heather Duke in The Heathers, Haimon in Antigone, and John Powell in Men on Boats. For her English Senior Thesis, she wrote, directed, and acted in an original one act mini musical All Eyes on the Bar.