Native Texan, Jan Cornelius, acclaimed for her “wonderfully attractive soprano with a solid core” is a fourth year resident artist at the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, PA. Her voice has been described as a “dark-toned soprano, tipped with a silvery edge.”
In the fall of 2010, she made her debuts with Atlanta Opera as Musetta in La bohème, Virginia Opera as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Giorgetta in Il Tabarro with the Academy of Vocal Arts. She also sang the title role in Arabella by Strauss and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, both with the Academy of Vocal Arts before singing Mimì in La bohéme with Des Moines Metro Opera. Upcoming engagements include Mimi in La bohème with the Santa Barbara Opera and the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro with Fort Worth Opera.
Last season, she debuted the role of Mimì (La bohème) and Countess Madeline (Strauss’ Capriccio) with the Academy of Vocal Arts, as well as Micaëla in Carmen with The Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. Other recent performances include the title role in the Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, Silvana in Respighi’s La fiamma, Manon Lescaut in the second act of Puccini’s masterpiece, as well as Violetta in La traviata with the Academy of Vocal Arts. As a Spectrum Resident Artist with Virginia Opera, she performed the roles of Frasquita in Carmen, and Nedda in I Pagliacci.
Ms. Cornelius has distinguished herself in numerous competitions. She recently earned first prize in the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition and the Gerda Lissner Vocal Competition. In both 2009 and 2010, she represented the Mid-Atlantic Region as a semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition and received grants from Opera Index. She was also awarded second prize by the Licia Albanese–Puccini Foundation, the Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation, and the Loren L. Zachary Society. In 2009, she made her international competition debut as a finalist in the prestigious Monserrat Caballe International Vocal Competition in Zaragoza, Spain.
Jan Cornelius attended Louisiana State University, received her masters at the University of Houston, Moores School of Music, and currently studies with the world renowned voice teacher Bill Schuman at the Academy of Vocal Arts.
