American soprano Erin Schmura, has been hailed for her “enormous voice, comedic timing,” and “magnetic stage presence” (Democrat & Chronicle). An avid proponent of twenty-first century and contemporary music, Erin premiered three new roles with CO-OPERA in collaboration with Pittsburgh Opera: Sien from Last Night in the Hague, Amara II from For the Time of Being, and The Woman from The Elephants.

 

This past summer, Erin was a Young Artist at the Russian Opera Workshop where she performed the role of the Polovetsian Maiden in Prince Igor. Additionally, Schmura was invited to participate in the Song d’été en musique festival in Quebec, Canada. There she was a concert soloist and participated as mentor for highschool singers entering their first year of college.

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Other previous opera credits include the Second Wood Nymph from Rusalka (Resonance Works / Pittsburgh), The Rooster from The Cunning Little Vixen (Miami Music Festival), lead role of Polly from The Beggar’s Opera (Carnegie Mellon), lead role of Helene from Hin und Zurück, Javotte from Manon, Ayah from The Secret Garden, and Donna Elvira (partial) from Don Giovanni (Eastman Opera Theater). Erin has sung as a Young Artist with the Ohio Light Opera Company, performing Marsinah from Kismet. Role studies at various summer festivals include Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Elettra (Idomeneo), Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel), Blonde (Die Entführung aus dem Serail).

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Erin has enjoyed the stage as a soloist at several international music festivals. In Austria, Schmura sang with the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz where she studied with conductor and Musical Director of the Hamburger Kammeroper, Ettore Prandi. Erin's passion for language has allowed her to perform in over 15 languages in recitals and oratorios.  In particular, her study has enabled her to connect closely to her Czech heritage and to the music of the Czech people through language and cultural studies from Univerzita Karlova in Prague, Czech Republic.  

 

Honors include the Pittsburgh Concert Society’s Young Artist Award, the Barbara Cass Award, the John Philip Sousa Award, the Howard Hanson Award, the Eastman School of Music Vocal Department Scholarship, Carnegie Mellon School of Music Merit Award, first place winner in NATS, and finalist in the Kneisel’s Lieder Competition.

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