American mezzo-soprano Emily Harmon has been praised for her “velvety mezzo-soprano voice” (Pittsburgh in the Round), her “Horne-like, rock solid mezzo” (Opera Today), and “scene-stealing” performances (Schmopera and Bachtrack.com). Emily recently completed her second season as a Young Artist at the Glimmerglass Festival, where she appeared as Doris/Witness #3 in Elizabeth Cree and covered Ruth in
The Pirates of Penzance. She recently made her house debut with Virginia Opera as Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia, where she spent a year as a member of the Herndon Foundation Emerging Artists Program. She was also a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera and spent two seasons as a young artist with Pittsburgh Festival Opera. Emily made her European debut singing both Cherubino and Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro at the Tuscia Operafestival. Among her favorite operatic roles are Amastre (Xerxes), the Old Lady (Candide), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), and the Marquise de Merteuil (The Dangerous Liaisons). An enthusiast of the great concert repertoire, Emily has sung the alto solos in Beethoven’s Symphony No.9, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Mass, Purcell’s Come, Ye Sons of Art, Z.323, and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms. Passionate about the arts in every shape and form, Emily is quickly garnering attention as a highly versatile crossover artist. She has sung solos and backup vocals for touring artists including Josh Groban, Natalie Merchant, and Sarah Brightman. She finds great joy in performing musical theater, with past roles including Mrs. Snoring Man/Tessie (White Christmas). Emily trained as a dancer for twelve years, specializing in tap and modern dance, and she has acted in plays including Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus. Emily received both her M.M. (magna cm laude) in Voice Performance from Boston University, and she currently studies with Dr. Rebecca Folsom. When she isn’t performing, Emily loves reading, drawing, baking, and spending time in nature. Emily is also the proud mom of a rescue dog named Captain, who is a very good boy when allowed to visit the rehearsal room!
