Elisa Johnson

1^st Prize Winner
2015 Brian Law Opera Competition

Biography prepared by Lesley Robinson from information submitted by the artist with her application for the 12^th Brian Law Opera Competition, held .

Eliza Johnson, soprano

Canadian/American Soprano Eliza Johnson has been praised for her fine acting prowess and even lyric tone. Under the mentorship of Maestro Stephen Lord she was Opera Theater of Saint Louis (OTSL)’s first-ever Richard Gaddes Festival Artist (a new category for emerging young artists in Opera Theater’s prestigious Gerdine Young Artists’ program) appearing as Berta in The Barber of Seville and covering Pulcheria in the American premiere of Handel’s Riccardo Primo. With OTSL, Eliza appeared as Mrs. Fiorentino in Street Scene and Antonia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann in the 40^th Anniversary Center Stage concert. During the 2014 season, Eliza appeared as an Artist in Residence and as a Gerdine Young Artist, making her company debut as Soeur Valentine in The Dialogues of the Carmelites and covering Adina in The Elixir of Love. She sang the role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro under the baton of Maestro Daniel Lipton during the 2015 summer season of Highlands Opera Studio. With Opera Lyra Ottawa’s Opera Studio, Eliza appeared as Pamina/Second Lady in The Magic Flute and competed as the only soprano finalist in the 2014 COC Centre Stage Competition. In concert, Eliza has been heard with the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra (Beethoven’s Mass in C), Stratford Symphony Orchestra (Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate), Stratford Summer Music Concert Series and Salon 21 with Soundstreams International. Eliza was a member of the COC Chorus during the 2013-14 season. Eliza holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Opera from the University of Toronto where she studied with Canadian soprano Mary Morrison and tenor Dr. Darryl Edwards. Roles with the U of T Opera Division include Lucy in The Telephone, Despina in Così fan tutte, Rob Ford’s Mother in Rob Ford: The Opera, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Governess in The Turn of the Screw, and she appeared in excerpts as Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Marzelline (Fidelio), Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare), and Violetta (La Traviata). Eliza is an alumna of training programs with Highlands Opera Studio, OTSL, Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, Tapestry New Opera, University of Manitoba Contemporary Opera Lab, St. Andrews by the Sea and the Oratorio Advanced Workshop with the Victoria Conservatory. In 2009, Eliza released her debut album, Eliza Sings Rodgers and Hart, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Mr. William Francis. Eliza is a member of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association and the American Guild of Musical Artists.