Akela Franklin is a versatile soprano and music educator based in Boston. Originally from California, she holds degrees in vocal performance from the University of Puget Sound and Longy School of Music. Akela’s passion for vocal pedagogy has driven her career, blending her love for singing with a deep understanding of the voice’s scientific function.

As an educator, Akela has taught with various organizations including Youth and Family Enrichment Services, Children’s Music Center of Jamaica Plain, and First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton. She currently teaches at Community Music Center of Boston and serves as soprano section leader and soloist at Park Ave Congregational Church in Arlington.

Akela’s operatic repertoire includes roles in Cendrillon, Der Zwerg, and Le Comte Ory. She made her international debut in Dido & Aeneas on the Greek island of Lefkada. Known for her exuberant interpretations of German Romantic repertoire, Spanish art song, and Golden Age musical ballads, Akela is an accomplished recitalist, with notable performances including “A Recital You May Not Survive” and “Queens, Fairytales, & Fantasies.”

Beyond singing and teaching, Akela is training in Alexander Technique at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Her diverse interests encompass cooking, traveling, experiencing live music and theatre, and playing ukulele. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and skill levels fall in love with singing, bringing creativity and joy to her artistic life.

Akela’s multifaceted career as a performer and educator showcases her commitment to vocal artistry and pedagogy, making her a rising figure in New England’s classical music scene.