Mezzo-soprano Kaswanna Kanyinda has been praised for her dramatic presence, vocal warmth, and as “a talent to keep a sharp lookout for.” A former Hattie Mae Lesley Resident Artist, she has since transitioned into a Principal Artist with Fort Worth Opera, where she continues to bring both artistry and depth to the stage. This season, she looks forward to joining Opera Arlington for their 2025–26 season.

Kaswanna has established herself as a dynamic performer of both classic and contemporary works. Her recent credits include Blue with Toledo Opera, Omar with the Spoleto Festival, Stand Up with Fort Worth Opera, and Stinney: An American Tragedy with Opera Grand Rapids. Earlier in her career, she portrayed Flosshilde in Michigan Opera Theatre’s Twilight: Gods—one of the few live productions staged in the U.S. during 2020—and earned a Wilde Award for her powerful portrayal of the Mother in Opera MODO’s The Consul.

She has appeared with companies such as Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Finger Lakes Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Detroit Opera, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, and The Lost Colony, where she performed in the Tony Award–winning outdoor drama. A recent Semi-finalist for the Palm Springs Opera Guild Vocal Competition, Kaswanna was also a winner of the Opera Guild of Charlotte Competition and third-place recipient in the Heafner–Williams Competition.

Kaswanna earned her Master of Music degree from the University of Michigan, where she studied under George Shirley and represented the university in the Kennedy Center Conservatory Project. During her undergraduate studies at UNC Chapel Hill, she appeared in La Clemenza di Tito, Highway 1, USA, and Gianni Schicchi, and performed for distinguished guests including President Barack Obama and members of the Greensboro Four. She has also performed with the North Carolina Symphony, Duke Symphony Orchestra, and Durham Symphony Orchestra.