American mezzo-soprano Abigail Nims has quickly established herself as a musician of integrity and versatility in repertoire spanning from Bach, Handel, and Mozart to Crumb, Ligeti, and contemporary premieres. Her incisive characterizations combine with a brilliant and agile instrument to deliver performances which delight both audiences and critics alike.

Ms. Nims recently debuted with the San Francisco Symphony as second soprano soloist in Bach’s MASS IN B MINOR, with Wexford Festival Opera as Veruca Salt in Peter Ash’s THE GOLDEN TICKET (also with Atlanta Opera), with New York City Opera as Lazuli in L’ÉTOILE, and with the São Paulo Symphony as alto soloist in Bach’s MAGNIFICAT. A frequent collaborator with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, she has appeared in recent seasons as soloist in Stravinsky's PULCINELLA, Crumb's NIGHT OF THE FOUR MOONS; and in Haydn’s HARMONIEMESSE.

During the 2012-2013 season, Ms. Nims debuts with the Baltimore Symphony as alto soloist in MESSIAH, Florentine Opera as Nancy in Britten’s ALBERT HERRING, Virginia Opera as Prince Orlofsky in DIE FLEDERMAUS, and as mezzo-soprano soloist with the Adrian Symphony in Berlioz’ LES NUITS D'ÉTÉ. She also returns to Opera Grand Rapids as Zerlina in DON GIOVANNI.

Additional opera appearances include Despina in COSÌ FAN TUTTE with Palm Beach Opera and with Opera Grand Rapids; Zerlina in DON GIOVANNI with Opera New Jersey; Zefka in SCENES OF GYPSY LIFE (Janácek/Dvorák) with New York City's Gotham Chamber Opera; The Fox (cover) in Janácek’s THE CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN and Amando (cover) in Ligeti’s LE GRAND MACABRE, both with the New York Philharmonic; Hermia in Britten's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with the Princeton Festival; Dinah in TROUBLE IN TAHITI with Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi; Meg in LITTLE WOMEN and Cherubino in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO with Opera Delaware; Octavian in selections from DER ROSENKAVALIER with the Quad City Symphony; Nerone (cover) in AGRIPPINA with New York City Opera; and Tessa in THE GONDOLIERS with Opera North. She also covered the roles of Cherubino in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and Dorabella in COSÌ FAN TUTTE for Santa Fe Opera.

Ms. Nims is particularly praised for her expressive interpretations and tonal beauty in the concert repertoire. Highlights of recent seasons include Mahler’s SYMPHONY NO. 2 with Teatro Municipal (Chile); appearances as guest soloist in George Benjamin’s UPON SILENCE and Vivaldi’s STABAT MATER with the New England String Ensemble; Mozart’s REQUIEM with the Quad City Symphony; MESSIAH with both the Masterwork Chorus (Carnegie Hall) and with the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra (Ohio); Ligeti’s SÍPPAL, DOBBAL, NÁDIHEGEDÜVEL with the Yale Percussion Ensemble; LIEBESLIEDER WALZER at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival; Mahler’s SYMPHONY NO. 3 with Yale Philharmonia; and J.C.F. Bach's solo cantata, ACH, DASS ICH WASSERS GNUG HÄTTE with Westminster Kantorei.

An engaging recitalist, deeply dedicated to this repertoire, Ms. Nims has recently presented recitals at Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York City; Wexford Festival Opera; and as guest alumna at Ohio Wesleyan University. Her recitals have included repertoire by Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Berlioz, Schubert, Schumann, Grieg, Brahms, Mahler, Wolf, Debussy, Berg, Bridge, Ives, Ginastera, Argento, and Harbison.

Ms. Nims’ discography includes her performances of Martin Bresnick’s song cycle “Falling,” featured on the composer’s compilation album EVERY THING MUST GO (Albany Records, 2010), and the role of Veruca Salt in Peter Ash’s THE GOLDEN TICKET (also Albany Records), fall 2012.

Among Ms. Nims’ awards from distinguished foundations and institutions, are second prize in the 2007 Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Competition, the Anna Case MacKay Memorial Award from Santa Fe Opera, an honorable mention in the 2006 Bach Choir of Bethlehem Competition, and finalist in the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation. Ms. Nims holds degrees from Yale School of Music (recipient 2007 Dean’s Prize), Westminster Choir College (with honors), and Ohio Wesleyan University (summa cum laude). She was a Virginia Adams Fellow at the Carmel Bach Festival in 2009, an Apprentice Artist at Santa Fe Opera in 2007 and 2008, and a Young Artist with Opera North in 2005. Additionally, she has participated in the Spoleto Festival USA, AIMS in Graz (Austria), the Austrian-American Mozart Academy, and the Austria-Illinois Exchange Program in Vienna.