Akela Franklin
Soprano
Voice Teacher
Progressive Performing Artist
Meet Akela
California born soprano Akela Franklin (she/they) is steadily earning her place as one of New England’s rising classical singers. Blessed with a lush, agile full lyric instrument, Akela enjoys lending her voice to opera, musical theater, art song, and oratorio and other sacred music. As a progressive performing artist and educator, her mission is to:
"create unique, vibrant, and high quality art that inspires and empowers students and audiences."
Opera
Akela performs frequently with Boston Summer Opera (the "other" BSO). She joined them for their 2026 season "A Bel Canto Summer", appearing in the chorus of L’elisir d’amore and as Ufficiale and chorus in Il barbiere di Siviglia. She also performed as a featured artist in two of BSO's season recitals. In 2025, Akela made her BSO debut as Sam (Samuel) in The Pirates of Penzance, and performed as featured chorus and covered the role of Ida in The Opera Company's production of Die Fledermaus. That same year, she worked behind the scenes as the manager and casting director for the debut season of MassOpera’s Community and Youth Ensemble (CYE), which was featured in the company’s 2025 production of Handel’s Alcina. CYE’s debut was met with rave reviews by OperaWire’s Siriana Lundgren, who “found [herself] rooting for each one of them” and declared their performance an “utter delight” and “an intentional grounding in MassOpera’s new community initiative”.
Akela’s other recent stage appearances include Clarice in Caldara’s Il giuoco del quadriglio, and Suzel (cover) in Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz, both with West End Lyric. Previous operatic roles include Quatrième Esprit and Surintendant des Plaisirs in Cendrillon, Ghita in Der Zwerg, Ottilie in The Finishing School, and Alice in Le Comte Ory.
In addition to her work on the stage, Akela leads an active career as a teaching artist in the greater Boston area. She is a faculty member and the Voice Department Chair at Brookline Music School, where she also teaches music classes for young children. Akela maintained a vibrant private voice studio for 6 years before moving on in 2024 to open The Franklin Studio at Bloch Performing Arts, where she also serves as the business' Events Coordinator. Previously, she taught at Community Music Center of Boston for a number of years, filling a variety private voice, group teaching, and leadership roles.
Teaching
Akela is always eager to jump at any chance to bring new music to life! In 2026, she was privileged to premiere her dear friend Oriana Inferrera's Spectral Echoes, a 7 song cycle for six soprani, cello, and piano. In 2025, Akela completed the second ever performance of Poor Katy: A Murder Ballad (music by Rachel DeVore Fogarty and text by Leo Balkovetz). In the same year, she also leant her voice for the premiere recording of Jeffrey Brody’s Reflections, a set of 4 a cappella songs with text by Kathleen Fink. In 2024, Akela took part in premiering Brody's choral masterwork Te Deum, commissioned in honor of Park Avenue Congregational Church's 125th Anniversary Celebration.
New Works
Degrees
Master of Music, Vocal Performance, 2018
Longy School of Music of Bard College
Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance, 2015
Minor, Religion
University of Puget Sound
Recitals & Solo Engagements
Since 2022, Akela has served as the soprano section leader and soloist at Park Avenue Congregational Church in Arlington, She has performed solos from masterworks such as the Brahms Requiem, Verdi Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Handel’s Messiah, along with new works composed by PACC’s music director, Jeffrey Brody.
Akela is an avid recitalist and concert programmer. Her most recent solo recital, Franklin Fright Night: An Evening of Spooky Songs and Stories, was performed in October of 2025 in collaboration with her grandmother, storyteller Neshama Franklin. The program featured an intriguing mix of unsettling songs and folk tales from variety of traditions and genres and was performed as part of the Bloch Performing Arts Faculty Recital Series. Pianist Tristan Leung and soprano Jessica Bloch-Moisand joined as guest artists. In 2024, Akela collaborated with West End Lyric to create the joint recital Feminine Phenomenon: Broadway Revival, which featured musical theatre works created by women composers and librettists. The same year, Akela also curated, directed, and performed in the Women of Tin Pan Alley cabaret, showcasing student singers alongside professional talent. She led a repeat rendition of the same program at Community Music Center of Boston as part of the John Kleshinski 2023-24 Concert Series. This performance featured CMCB students, faculty, and West End Lyric guest performers.
In addition to programming concerts for professional singers, Akela regularly programs in educational spaces, most notably at Brookline Music School and Bloch Performing Arts. Recent themed recitals include A Little Bit in Love (BPA), I Want it Now! (BMS), Once Upon a Time (BMS), and An Evening of Rodgers & Hammerstein... and Friends! (BMS). In March 2027, in recognition of Women's History Month, Akela will serve as the Artistic Director for Brookline Music School's first annual Women Composers Festival, an all-school, all day celebration of the musical artistry women have contributed over the last several centuries.