Biography

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Sara Emerson, soprano, is an engaging singer who has recently performed with the Adrian Symphony, Andrews University Symphony, Metropolitan International Music Festival in NYC, Opera Grand Rapids, and AIMS in Graz, Austria. Ms. Emerson was a featured summer artist with Savannah Voice Festival, Connecticut Lyric Opera, and Asheville Lyric Opera. On the operatic stage, she has performed the roles of Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, First Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Venus in Offenbach’s Orpehus in the Underworld, and many others. In her musical theater engagements, Ms. Emerson has appeared as Marian Paroo in The Music Man, Nettie in Carousel, and Lady Larken in Once Upon a Mattress. She performed the leading soprano role of Cleria in the North American premier of the revived manuscript of Francesco Cavalli’s La Virtu de’ Stralli d’Amore.

Ms. Emerson made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2010 where she performed Hector Villa-Lobos' Aria from Bachianas Brasileiras. She was soprano soloist in concert with the Adrian Symphony (Faure's Requiem, soloist), Andrews University Orchestra (Beethoven's Ninth Symphony), Traverse Symphony Orchestra, Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra (Orff's Carmina Burana), Kalamazoo Bach Festival, UMS Choral Union, & Kalamazoo Singers.

An active recitalist, Ms. Emerson regularly performs solo recitals throughout the Midwest, including a recent concert in Chicago and recital tour throughout Michigan. She developed the recital program "Opera Babies" which she performs for young children and their parents introducing them to opera for babies and children. Ms. Emerson also performed "Roof-top Recitals" throughout the Pandemic to continue to share music with others during the lockdown and beyond. She made her international recital debut in 2007 in Paris, France singing in the Summer Sessions Recital series. 

Ms. Emerson won First Place in the Opera Idol Competition with Sherrill Milnes; Second Place in the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition with the PVC Trio, of which Ms. Emerson is the founder; Second Place in the Marjorie Conrad Peatee Art Song Competition; Third Place in the Holland Chorale Nicholas Loren Vocal  Competition.