Valuing rich and warm vocalism along with engaging portrayals on-stage, mezzo-soprano Valarie Miles has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa. A Texas native, Valarie fell in love with the craft of opera at a young age and has continued pursuing diverse performance opportunities through educational and professional venues.As a black performer, Valarie actively includes compositions by Black and African American composers in her recitals and lectures. She seeks to broaden the research of these underrepresented artists, hoping that her efforts will increase the inclusivity and diversity of the classical vocal arts field.

Valarie teaches voice and piano to ages 3 and up throughout the DMV area and is currently accepting new students. She believes the study of the arts to be formative to developing brains and strives to give her students a creative outlet to express their ideas and challenge their minds. In her teaching, Valarie focuses on developing the whole musician. Her lessons encompass sight-reading, ear training, music history, and performance preparation, with particular attention to stage presence and artistic confidence. She excels at helping students make connections between vocal and piano skills, creating well-rounded musicians comfortable in multiple styles, including classical, jazz, musical theater, and contemporary repertoire.

Alongside teaching , Valarie is an active performer. During the 2024-25 season, Valarie will perform as Annio in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito and as L’Ecureuil in Ravel’s L’Efant et les Sortilièges with the Peabody Opera Theatre. Previous roles include Nada in Ana Sokolovic’s Svadba, Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, and Angela in Patience. Valarie is a frequent recitalist and has presented lecture-recitals on Jules Bledsoe at the Peabody Institute and the National Museum of African American Culture and History as well as a specially curated program for Judge David Tatel at the Castleton Music Festival. Valarie is a proud member of the Denyce Graves Foundation’s Shared Voices program, where she has the opportunity to explore the historical intersection of Black culture and the classical vocal arts field.

Valarie holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Baylor University, where she studied with Dr. Jamie Van Eyck. Valarie is currently pursuing her Master of Music at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, where she studies under Dr. Carl Dupont. She is an inaugural recipient of the institution’s Pathways to DMA Fellowship.