“Alexis Davis Hazell’s vocal talents are also impressive in the indelibly memorable role of Frugola in “Il Tabarro.” – Charlie Schill, review of the Utah Festival Opera production of Puccini’s Il Trittico, The Herald Journal
“[Alexis] Davis’ death scene in Act One was remarkable for its truthfulness. Davis infused every sung phrase with fear and trembling at the imagined sight of her end.” – Ken La Fave, Arizona Republic regarding Alexis Davis as Mme. De Croissy in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites
“[Alexis] has proven to be a respected colleague, beautiful artist, and an excellent musician. Her natural instrument is rare, and its continued cultivation will serve the future of our craft well. I believe she has the capacity to make a significant contribution to our industry…” – Ryan Taylor, General Director Minnesota Opera
American mezzo-soprano Alexis Davis-Hazell’s performances have earned accolades for the size and quality of her instrument, and the dramatic intensity she brings to supporting characters. Alexis’ soloist appearances since contributing to the GRAMMY™ award-winning album Gretchaninov: Passion Week with the Phoenix Chorale include symphonic works such as Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky, Dvořak Stabat Mater, Duruflé Requiem, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with orchestras in the southeast and southwest U.S.; the International Alonzo Ortiz Tirado Opera Festival in Sonora, Mexico; and a variety of roles and cover assignments ranging from Dritte Dame (Zauberflöte), La Frugola (Il Tabarro) and La Badessa (Suor Angelica) in Puccini’s Il Trittico, to Giovanna (Rigoletto), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Amneris (Aida), Azucena (Il Trovatore) and Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana) with regional opera companies such as Arizona Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Mississippi Opera, Opera Birmingham, and Cincinnati Opera.
Among her career highlights are the more than 130 performances of The Gershwins’ masterwork Porgy and Bess. She gained an invaluable cultural and professional education singing the roles of Maria, Lily and Strawberry Woman as a principal and ensemble swing in international venues. On tour, she performed on every level: from an understudy in the ensemble to principal artist. She has sung the roles of Maria, Lily and Strawberry Woman in Russia, Poland, Greece, Latvia, and Switzerland. These performances include critically acclaimed productions at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, Dresden SemperOper, Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf, Hamburgische Staatsoper, the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus, the Mikhailovsky Opera in St. Petersburg, the Moscow Philharmonic and the Polish National Opera, leading to her debut in the principal role Maria at the Kuressaare Operadays Festival in Estonia. Alexis appeared in the critically acclaimed productions of Show Boat and Porgy and Bess at San Francisco Opera – both of which were shown via PBS, U.S. cinema release, and marketed internationally on DVD. Alexis continues to exercise her fluency in a diversity of repertoire, as a musical director in theatre (I love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and Monty Python’s Spamalot,) and jazz cabarets, as well as a concert soloist and performer of opera’s dramatic repertoire.
A National Past-President of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (2026-2028), Dr. Davis-Hazell continues to be an interdisciplinary collaborator, featured guest artist, clinician, and music humanities lecturer nationally and at international conferences of voice, opera, and arts research alliances. Her research centers on the improvement of lyric diction curricula through teaching Russian Art song literature, and the advocacy of under programmed vocal repertoire. She is also a serial collaborator across disciplines and these interests include: the impact of performing arts training on well-being for Alabama youth, the intersection of Blackface Minstrelsy and contemporary voice performance practice, and promotion of vocal literature by African American women composers.
Dr. Davis-Hazell serves on the faculty of The University of Alabama School of Music as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Professor of Voice and Lyric Diction. She is a former College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Board Faculty fellow (2021-2024), and a current Collaborative Arts Research Initiative Fellow (2025-2027). She holds degrees in Vocal Performance from Temple University (B.M. Hons.) and Arizona State University (M.M., D.M.A.)
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