Haitian American soprano Kathiana Dargenson is a recipient of the Encouragement Award from the Florida District of the 2025 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She is also a 2024–2025 mentee in the inaugural cohort of the Black Leadership and Arts Collective. Previously, she served as a Fellow in Castleton Festival’s Vocal Immersion Program and as a Smith Young Artist with Cedar Rapids Opera, where she sang the role of Nella and covered Lauretta in their production of Gianni Schicchi. Ms. Dargenson has performed the roles of Margarita Xirgu in Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar; Mary in William Grant Still’s Highway 1, USA; and several operatic scenes, including Elettra (Idomeneo), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), and the Countess (Le nozze di Figaro). She has also performed in Carmen with Opera Orlando. Ms. Dargenson was the soprano soloist in Ballad of the Brown King with the Indiana University Symphony Orchestra and sang the role of the Marschallin in the Trio from Der Rosenkavalier in concert with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Dargenson holds a Performance Diploma and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University, where she studied with Michelle DeYoung. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies and Psychology from the University of South Florida. Ms. Dargenson has been featured in several masterclasses, working with Paul Groves, Karen Slack, Julia Faulkner, Kevin Murphy, Jane Dutton and others.