Martha Lopez is a versatile lyric-coloratura soprano, performer, educator, and accomplished musician. A native of New Jersey, Martha began her musical journey at the age of six, initially training as a classical pianist. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Stetson University in 1997. After starting her career in music education, she shifted her focus to classical singing, earning a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of South Florida in 2006. Martha’s ongoing vocal studies have taken her to New York, where she trained with renowned voice scholar and author Shirlee Emmons, and currently with esteemed vocal coach Rosa Vento.

Her dedication to honing her craft has made her a sought-after performer on the national stage, both in recital and as a concert soloist. She has performed with prestigious ensembles and companies such as Opera Tampa, New Century Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Pops Orchestra of Sarasota, and the North Port Symphony.

While she thrives on stage, Martha also embraces the innovative possibilities of digital performance. She has brought classical music into the homes of a global audience, performing art song recitals live over the Internet, reaching viewers across the United States and countries including Argentina, Thailand, Germany, and Slovenia. In 2013, Martha released her debut album, Encanto: Art Songs of Spain and Latin America, a collection of 23 art songs from Spain, Argentina, and Cuba. The album features works by composers such as Joaquín Turina, Xavier Montsalvatge, and Carlos Guastavino. Music critic Celeste Mann praised her voice, saying, “the clear soprano rings like a bell, highlighting the heartfelt sincerity of this repertoire.”

Her second album, Seven Sacred Songs, was released in November 2014, followed by a Christmas album titled It’s for You…for Christmas! in November 2016, a collaboration with pianist Lurray Myers. In 2018, she released For the Heart, From the Heart, a live recording of her 2017 recital featuring works by Bellini, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Poulenc, de Falla, and Willis.

Martha has also ventured into acting. In 2017, she made her stage debut in the Sarasota Players’ New Play Reading Festival, and later that year performed the role of Ofelia in Nilo Cruz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Anna in the Tropics at the Manatee Performing Arts Center.

In addition to her performing career, Martha has dedicated herself to philanthropy and community outreach.  From 2011 to 2014, Martha served as Director of Ben & I Play for Peace – Sarasota, collaborating with young guitarist and philanthropist Ben Werdegar to raise funds for children with disabilities in need of wheelchairs. Their initiative garnered national attention, earning recognition from the United States House of Representatives and features on NPR’s From the Top.

Outside of her musical career, Martha is an avid tennis player and finds joy in combining her passions with philanthropy. She volunteers with Buddy Up for Life, an organization that provides fitness and tennis clinics for athletes with Down syndrome, offering her time and skills to support this meaningful cause.

As an educator, Martha served on the Voice faculty at the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, from 2007 to 2019, returning to the department in 2022. She has taught Applied Voice to both music majors and non-majors, sharing her expertise and passion for music with a new generation of singers. Currently, Martha is the Director of Music at the Church of the Nativity – Episcopal in Sarasota, Florida.