Latonia grew up with black music, and at age 8 began to sing in the church choir of the New Sunrise Baptist Church, where her grandfather, Cranford Moore, was a pastor.

She made her highly acclaimed debut at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, as Aida in March 2012, when she replaced an ailing colleague, at 36-hours’ advance notice. Her debut was broadcast live and world wide.

She is featured on commercial recordings of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 (Deutsche Grammophon) and Verdi’s Macbeth (sung in English, Chandos). In January 2016, she performed the role of Tosca for the newly revived New York City Opera at the Rose Theater in Lincoln Center.

Awards and achievements: Richard Tucker Foundation Grant (2005); first prize and audience award at the Concours International d’Opéra, Marseille (2003); special prize at the Kammeroper der Internationalen Hans Gabor Belvedere Gesangswettbewerbe (2003); first prize and audience award at the Internationalen Gesangswettbewerbs der italienischen Oper, Dresden (2002); and the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions (2000).