Paula K. Poulafearh-Argondizza

Soprano, MCNY Board of Directors
Jurist–Serge & Olga Koussevitzky Young Artist Awards

Paula Poulafearh, is a native New Yorker, a Tuscaroan, of Native American descent. She is a graduate from Baruch College with an undergraduate degree in Business Management (BBA). Her career experience has been focused on managing small businesses in the field of horticulture, floral and floral design. She has extensive experience in troubleshooting, problem solving, reorganizing, supervising, maintaining accounts (bookkeeping) as well as working with customer relationships and sales. In the 1990’s, Paula founded and directed the small operatic company “Operatic Performances”, which presented operas in concert form to local and school audiences.

Operatic Soprano: Paula loves music and singing. She has studied voice all her life and has performed in both opera and concert throughout her life. At the age of twelve to fifteen, she performed as a soloist through the PAL Association of New York on channel thirteen. When the Metropolitan Opera ran its Metropolitan Opera Vocal Contest for high school students, Paula was a Finalist. In 1992, she made her debut in Italy, performing as soprano soloist with the conductor Maurizio Preziosi in Rosignano Salvay and Livorno, both in Tuscany, with full orchestra and chorus, Mozart’s Mass in C Major (KV 66). Twice in her life, she has also performed as a mezzo-soprano: in 1992, she performed the lead in the American composer Charles Wakefield Cadman’s American Indian opera, The Sunset Trail, at the Geneva Opera House, Geneva, New York; in 2014, she performed the fun role of the Countess in Andrea Chewier, presented by the Chelsea Opera Company of Pennsylvania. Over the years, Paula is proud to have been a soloist for many different church denominations throughout the New York City area. 

TV and Video Recording: She is presently the founder and producer of the Public Cable Access program, "The Manhattan Classical and Opera Concert Series." This program appears on Saturday evenings, 9-9:30PM, bi-monthly on Time Warner Channel 56; RCN Channel 83; and Verizon Fios Channel 34. It can be viewed on Manhattan cable only, but it is simultaneously broadcast worldwide on the internet. The focus of the program has been to present major classical music personalities in concert and through interview, as well as the presentation of various groups and organizations dedicated to promoting and exposing young artists and composers, both renowned and new, mainly opera, but an increasing number of classical instrumental presentations, especially through the Musicians Club of New York and the Winners of its Serge & Olga Koussevitzky Young Artist Awards. Her work also serves companies and individual artists to promote and archive their work, from Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music students to full opera companies, such as Encompass New Opera Theatre. Her work on behalf of the Musicians Club of New York has been critical to the early development of many of the careers of Serge & Olga Koussevitzky Young Artist Award winners.