Native of China, and grew up in the Philippines, Judy Stafford has garnered top prizes for numerous competitions on and off-campus representing her school and as a national contestant. She began formal lessons in voice after winning the first singing competition she joined in second grade.
Stafford not only excelled in singing, but also in essay-writing, Chinese calligraphy, oratorical, and declamation. She was a representative of the Philippines for the Song Festival in Bangalore, India as her first traveling performance.
Her musical performances include Satine, from Moulin Rouge the Musical, presented by ABS-CBN, a local television channel in Manila; in Merrily We Roll Along, as a member of the Repertory Philippines; as well as in South Pacific, presented by the YMCA Chinese Society of Manila.
Stafford pursued a music degree in college years and received her undergraduate studies majoring in Voice and minor in Piano at University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Maestra Irma Ponce-Enrile Potenciano.
She was offered a full scholarship with stipend to continue her studies in Hong Kong. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Voice with Honors at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, with Brian Montgomery (Head of Vocal Studies) as her mentor. She received her Master in Music degree in Vocal Performance at New England Conservatory, with the Canadian baritone Mr. Michael Meraw.
In addition to receiving The Academy Non-Local Scholarship from APA, Scholarships for Young Opera Singers, The Society of APA Non-Local Scholarship, Student Scholarship Fund, The Brenda and Laurence Scofield Scholarship Fund, and New England Conservatory Scholarship and Merit Award, Stafford had support from among other generous private (sometimes anonymous) donors throughout her education.
In the Philippines, Stafford’s private voice students were successfully prepared in competitions and recitals, on and off campus, garnering top awards in local competitions. Student recitals were held at the end of the year at Gilmore Music Center, which she founded while in the Philippines.
Some of her more memorable competitions include First Place at The Hong Kong Youth Singing Festival presented by the Yip’s Children’s Choir, Second Place in Asia Preliminary of Francesco Paolo Tosti International Singing Competition held in Nara, Japan. She was invited back to Japan to sing for a recital called Tribute to Sir Francesco Tosti. She represented Hong Kong in the Francesco Paolo Tosti International Singing Competition Finals held in Ortona, Italy, winning Third Place, and Best Young Singer. She was hailed by the South China Morning Post with headlines “Budding Opera Star to Sing for Asia” among other press releases in Philippines, Hong Kong, Italy, and Japan.
While in Hong Kong, she performed both Mainland China and Philippine's National Anthem in the 111th year Independence Day of the Philippines hosted by the Philippine Consulate General, wherein many countries' ambassadors and consul generals gathered to celebrate.
Stafford is currently an active member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the official chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Boston Pops Orchestra. She performs at least 10 performances with them every year, mostly at Symphony Hall, in Berkshires in the summer, and sometimes at Carnegie Hall in NYC. Stafford also held the position of Personnel & Production Manager for the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra pre-pandemic.
Stafford prioritizes ongoing professional development and has completed various courses, including the Suzuki Voice teacher training with instructor Amelia Seyssel. She is currently recognized as the most advanced Suzuki Voice teacher in Massachusetts, and was awarded the 2024 Distinguished Young Teacher Award from the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Aside from having her own private music studio and actively performing, Stafford is a mom to two daughters, and she homeschools using Montessori. She speaks four languages - English, Mandarin, Tagalog, and Fukien (and Taiwanese) fluently. When not performing/teaching and spending time with family, she enjoys reading and learning new things on her free time (what free time?! 😆).
