Michelle Siemens

Hailed as “incredibly versatile and exciting” (Schmopera) Canadian mezzo-soprano Michelle Siemens is continually thrilling audiences with her “dark, lustrous instrument” (The National Post). Recently, Ms. Siemens debuted Der Komponist in Highland Opera Studio's ARIADNE AUF NAXOS, of which Opera Canada said, "In the trouser role of the Composer, Michelle Siemens captured the angst of her character while also displaying vocal virtuosity in her show stopping 'Sein wir wieder gut.' "As an Apprentice with Central City Opera, she made her debut as Ines in Verdi’s IL TROVATORE.

​

In 2018 she concluded her tenure as a Domingo-Colburn-Stein young artist with Los Angeles Opera where she made her United States debut as a Daughter in AKHNATEN, and was seen as the Page in Verdi’s RIGOLETTO, Margalit in Perla’s JONAH AND THE WHALE, principal ensemble in Bernstein’s CANDIDE. She also covered Maddelena in Verdi’s RIGOLETTO, Mercedes in Bizet’s CARMEN, and Fenena in Verdi’s NABUCCO. Los Angeles Opera featured her as a soloist in the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program 10 Year Anniversary Gala and Placido Domingo 50th Anniversary Gala.

​

In 2013, Ms. Siemens made her international debut in the title role of Purcell’s DIDO AND AENEAS at the Yorkshire Opera Workshop in the United Kingdom. Other previous seasons have included Hermia in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and La Suora Infermiera in SUOR ANGELICA with Opera on the Avalon, Ocypete in Marc Blitzstein’s THE HARPIES and Cherbuino in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO with Halifax Summer Opera Festival, Madame de la Haltière in Peter Kazaras’ production of CENDRILLON at UCLA, and Dritte Dame in Mozart’s DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE and Third Witch Bloch’s MACBETH with the Manhattan School of Music.

​

On the concert stage, Ms. Siemens collaborated for two years with Los Angeles Opera’s Artist-in-Residence Matthew Auction to present three touring concerts including his own compositions, as well as operatic standards of Mozart and Verdi. She has sung the mezzo-soprano soloist in Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with L.A.’s Enlightenment Music Series, Rachmaninoff’s Vespers with Summit Chorale in New Jersey, Verdi’s Requiem with Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs and Mozart’s Requiem with Opera on the Avalon. Other guest soloist appearances include Fresh Squeezed Opera, the Savannah Voice Festival and the Greenwich Symphony as well as the Colburn School where she sang CHANSONS MADÉCASSES.

Ms. Siemens was a winner in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera National Council District Auditions, and received an encouragement award from the Western Region Finals. She was also a finalist for both the Canadian Opera Company Gala Competition, and the Ades Vocal Competition.

Ms. Siemens holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music.