Biography 

Taylor Gonzaga is an American soprano and music educator native to the pacific northwest. Taylor boasts over 12 years of performance and teaching experience, with past highlight performances including work with Portland's former Mocks Crest Opera (Fleta in Iolanthe, Zorah in Ruddigore, Edith in Pirates of Penzance, Kate in Yeomen of the Guard, and ensemble in the companies Portland Area Theater Alliance award winning production of HMS Pinafore, as well as The Light In The Piazza), Duluth's Renegade Theater Company (Florence in Bright Star), The UMD Opera Studio (Giulietta in Tales of Hoffmann, Lucy in The Telephone), The University of Portland Dept. Theater (Simon Zealot in Jesus Christ Superstar), and Portland's Twilight Theater Company (The Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd). In addition to fully staged productions, Taylor performs frequent concert and recital collaborations with entities such as The Feminine Lyrique Ensemble, The University of Portland Singers and Orchestra, The Francis Street Singers, The Columbia River Catholic Choirs, The Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association, The Grotto PDX, and Opera Cecilia. Her solo performance of Mozarts Exsultate Jubilate was broadcast from the Grotto PDX Chapel of Mary for a Christmas special on KBVM Radio 88.3 FM. In 2023, Taylor made her Carnegie Hall recital debut as an apprentice artist with the Vincero Academy operatic role studies program, where she studied and coached the roles of Musetta in Puccini's La Boheme and Barbarina in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Taylor made her European performance debut at the age of 20 as an emerging artist with the Music In The Marche in Mondavio, Italy. Taylor has also served as a selected studio apprentice artist with the Miami Classical Music Festival. In the competition sector, Taylor is the winner of Twilight Theater Co's Twiggy Award for best supporting actress in the 2024 season, and is a multi time state and regional placeholder in competitions with the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Taylor is also a winner of the University of Portland Concerto Aria Competition, and a second place winner of the Charleston International Autumn Voice Competition. In 2017, Taylor was the recipient of The University of Portland's Roger Doyle Singer of the Year Award, and in 2021- she was the recipient of the University of Minnesota Duluth college of liberal arts award for outstanding opera student. 

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     As a devoted music educator, Taylor has directed liturgical music in the past with Catholic Churches in Oregon, Washington, and Minnesota- and has led group workshops and music directed productions of Annie and Shrek The Musical with Vancouver, Washington's Journey Theater Arts Group. Taylor has also served as a guest masterclass instructor with high school institutions on the west coast, most recently Central Catholic High School in Portland, Oregon and Seton High School in Vancouver, Washington. Taylor is a certified instructor with the National Association of Teachers of Singing and has been teaching voice lessons in her own studio and with various institutions since 2016. Taylor currently operates by day as the founder and CEO of Cecilia Music LLC, a music education and media company that boasts a small semi-professional opera troupe: Opera Cecilia, a monetized Youtube Channel, and a thriving voice studio offering in person private lessons and group music courses through the Out School platform. Under the umbrella of her company, Taylor also releases her own original music using the stage name "CECILIA" to popular streaming sites. Her debut Pop/Country EP "EMPIRE" was released in collaboration with producer Tiger X and recorded at Portland's Black Diamond Studios. Taylor's debut album "Expose", a folk, ethereal pop, and country inspired album about her coming of age from a teenager to a young adult, is scheduled to be dropped to streaming sites in 2025. 

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    Taylor currently shares a home in southwest Washington with her wonderful husband, beautiful foster son, and beloved fur and feather babies. When she is not working, she is usually spending ample time with loved ones, hiking in the wilderness, or nurturing her suburban homestead.