Soprano Courtney Johnson is a graduate of the Mannes College of Music in New York City, where she has been seen in the title role of Puccini’s Suor Angelica, as Beatrice in Daniel Catán’s Il Postino, and in her first Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte. She is a Virginia native who attended the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts, while performing with The Virginia Opera in their 2008 production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore. Her international appearances included performances in Novafeltria, Italy, participating in the Classic Lyric Arts program La Lingua della Lirica, studying the languages and cultures of classical vocal repertoire, and focusing on training the principals of Italian bel canto.
In 2013 she made her debut with The Opera Orchestra of New York in Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, performing the role of Sofia in Verdi’s I Lombardi alla prima crociata. In the summer of 2015, she joined the Glimmerglass Festival’s Young Artist Program, covering the role of The 1st Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and, covering The Lady-in-waiting in Verdi’s Macbeth. In 2016, Courtney made a highly successful Spoleto Festival debut as Clara in the historical and critically acclaimed new production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, in addition to her Carnegie Hall debut as the Soprano Soloist in the Vivaldi: Gloria and as the Soprano Soloist in the Rutter: Magnificat.
Highlights from her past seasons include performances with the Virginia Opera in their productions of Le Nozze di Figaro and The Sound of Music as a soprano chorister, singing the Soprano Chorus role with The Lincoln Center Theater’s preview production of Ricky Ian Gordon’s Intimate Apparel in 2018 and 2019, reprising the role of Suor Angelica in Puccini’s Suor Angelica with the International Vocal Arts Institute, and performing as a Studio Artist with The Wolf Trap Opera.
Courtney’s prestigious awards include being a Semi-Finalist in The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a Second Prize Winner in The Gerda Lissner International Competition, a Third Prize Winner in The Opera Index Competition, and a Second Prize Winner in the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition. She is also a Grant Winner of the George London Foundation, receiving the Encouragement Award.
This season, Courtney will return to The Virginia Opera, debuting the role of Grimgerde in Wagner’s Die Walküre, which will open their 2022-2023 season. In upcoming seasons, she will join The Metropolitan Opera in their new production of Terence Blanchard’s Champion, covering the role of Sadie Griffith.