“Dunavant perfectly interprets the diverse charm of vocal art, with the dramatic tension of Puccini’s opera and the delicate expression of Debussy’s art songs.” – Zhejiang Vocational College of Art, 2025
Ally, 26, is a lyric coloratura soprano. She graduated with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in 2023, earning a Master of Arts in Voice & Opera. There, she received the Fernside Award – a half-scholarship funded by a private donor – and was a member of the selective Preparatory Opera cohort. She studies with Mary Nelson. Previously, she trained with Marc Callahan, former Assistant Professor of Voice and Opera Director at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Read on below to get a better understanding of her experience and training. To see videos of her performances, please visit her Gallery.
CHINA TOUR – 2025
In April 2025, Ally embarked on her first tour – all across China.
With the East-West Arts Initiative and pianist Louise Cournarie, she traveled the country for just under a month, performing classical concerts, giving masterclasses and lectures, judging competitions, and teaching one-on-one lessons to Chinese voice students.
She is incredibly honored to have received this opportunity.
Highlights include…
A performance at the world’s highest concert venue, Sky Concert Hall in Shenzhen, which has hosted esteemed soloists such as Aida Garifullina
12 concerts, 4 masterclasses, and 3 lectures given to students and audiences of all ages across China over a 3-week period, including a lecture at an international forum hosted by Jilin University
Transformative private lessons with vocal students from Chinese institutions such as Zhejiang Conservatory in Hangzhou, Vanke Meisha Arts Academy in Shenzhen, and Zhejiang Vocational College of Art in Hangzhou
Video content to come soon. Please subscribe to her YouTube channel to be the first to see tour updates.
ROLES & SCENES
SOPHIE – Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss), Royal Academy of Music (2022)
1ST NIECE – Peter Grimes (Britten), Kensington Symphony Orchestra (2023)
LUCIA – The Rape of Lucretia (Britten), Royal Academy of Music (2022)
GRETEL – Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdinck), Royal Academy of Music (2022)
TAMIRI – Il re pastore (Mozart), UNC Opera (2021)
LA PRINCESSE/LE FEU – L’enfant et les sortilèges (Ravel), UNC Opera (2021)
GWEN – Atlas (Meredith Monk), UNC Opera (2021)
PEASEBLOSSOM/TYTANIA COVER – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten), Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (2021)
ORONTE – Alcina (Handel), UNC Opera (2018)
STUDENT ONE – Der Jasager (Weill), UNC Opera (2019)
ÉPONINE – Les Misérables, Battle Ground Academy Theatre (2016)
JULIA - The Wedding Singer, Battle Ground Academy Theatre (2015)
CINDERELLA’S MOTHER/LUCINDA – Into the Woods, UNC Pauper Players (2018)
MORTICIA – The Addams Family, Battle Ground Academy Theatre (2017)
MARGOT – The Diary of Anne Frank, Battle Ground Academy Theatre (2015)
MS. COWPER – Cash on Delivery!, Battle Ground Academy Theatre (2016)
BETTY MEEKS – The Foreigner, Battle Ground Academy Theatre (2017)
AWARDS & HONORS
SEMIFINALIST – Bampton Classical Opera Young Singers’ Competition (2023)
FERNSIDE AWARD – Royal Academy of Music (2021)
FIRST PLACE – Mid-Atlantic Regional NATS Vocal Competition (2021)
FIRST PLACE – North Carolina State NATS Vocal Competition (2019, 2021)
FINALIST – American Prize Competition (2021)
SEMIFINALIST – American Prize Competition (2020)
FINALIST – Schmidt Vocal Competition (2017)
UNC Opera Award – UNC Department of Music (2021)
Chamber Music Award – UNC Department of Music (2021)
Tony McDowell Scholarship for Excellence in Vocal Performance – UNC Department of Music (2017-2021)
Jimmie Norris Scholarship for Music Majors – UNC Department of Music (2018)
Mildred Brown Mayo Undergraduate Fund for Research in Music – UNC Department of Music (2019)
COACHES & DIRECTORS
Jonathan Papp
James Baillieu
Brenda Hurley
Florence Daguerre de Hureaux
Christopher Glynn
Daniele Guerra
Philip Sunderland
Victoria Newlyn
Alec Crowe
Peter Robinson
Russell Keable
Jean Rigby
Marc Callahan
Adrian Sarple
Linda Hutchinson
Susanna Rigacci
Qiao Zheng Goh
Jennifer McGregor
Paul Floyd
Yumi Kita
Maria Paulina Garcia
Fleur de Bray
TRAINING PROGRAMS
Royal Academy of Music – Preparatory Opera Program (2022-2023)
Royal Academy of Music – M.A. Voice & Opera (2021-2023)
UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Music – B.Mus. Vocal Performance (2017-2021)
Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (2019)
Honors Carolina Burch Musical Perspectives Program – London and Florence (2019)
Blair School of Music Precollege Voice – Vanderbilt University (2015-2017)
Berklee College of Music Vocal Summit (2015)
MASTERCLASSES
Susan Bullock (2023)
Isabel Leonard (2020)
Lucas Meachem (2019)
Alexandra LoBianco (2018)
Justin John Moniz (2019)