B i o g r a p h y
Soprano Hannah Shanefield’s fearless versatility as a performer, stage director, and creative leader is quickly establishing her as one of New England’s most sought-after artistic voices. She is the proud Executive Director of Boston Summer Opera and new Artistic Director of NEMPAC's Opera on the Prado series.
Her operatic roles include Gilda (Rigoletto), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Suzel (L'amico Fritz), Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice), Diana (La Calisto), the titular role in The Cunning Little Vixen, Madame Herz (The Impresario), La Grande Prêtresse/Une Bérgère (Hippolyte et Aricie), Jenny (Rorem's Three Sisters Who Aren't Sisters), the Sandman/Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel), and Berta (Il Barbiere di Siviglia).
Equally as enthusiastic about concert works, Hannah has performed the soprano solos in Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem, F. Couperin's Trois Leçons de Ténèbres, J.S. Bach’s BWV 150 and BWV 196, Mozart's Requiem, Dubois's Seven Last Words of Christ, and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.
Hannah's work as a stage director was recently recognized with a 2025 BroadwayWorld Boston nomination for Best Direction for Boston Summer Opera’s The Pirates of Penzance. She has also directed MassOpera’s Alcina, The Opera Company’s immersive Die Fledermaus, Boston Summer Opera’s Don Giovanni, and West End Lyric’s double bill of Il Giuoco del Quadriglio and the Coffee Cantata.
A diverse repertory enthusiast, Hannah is passionate about championing new music and underrepresented artists. She has collaborated on concerts with White Snake Projects, Boston Festival Orchestra, NEMPAC Opera Project, Horizon Ensemble, Orchestra Without Borders, Boston Opera and Zarzuela, Boston Music Project, Analog by Choice, and Milton Community Concerts.
Jules Pilkus Photography
Photo by Liz Kiger
Taylor Rossi Photography
Jules Pilkus Photography
A native of suburban Philadelphia, Hannah holds her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a minor in Music History from the Hartt School.