Kallen Esperian

Kallen Esperian is regarded as one of the great sopranos of our time. She appeared as Mimi in La Boheme opposite Luciano Pavarotti's Rodolfo at many of the world's greatest opera houses in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Philadelphia, and Beijing. after making her Metropolitan Opera debut in the same role opposite Placido Domingo; she has also appeared as Desdemona in Otello opposite Domingo at the Opera National de Paris. At Milan's Teatro alla Scala, Ms. Esperian appeared as Mina opposite Jose Carreras in La Scala's first-ever performance of Verdi's Stiffelio. Additional career highlights have included title roles in Madama Butterfly, Luisa Miller, Manon Lescaut, and Maria Stuarda, along with leading roles in the great opera houses of the world.

Concert highlights have included the 1993 Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Gala with Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, numerous performances of the Verdi Requiem with many of the world's great orchestras and conductors, and worldwide appearances as one of "The Three Sopranos." Recordings have included a compact disc and video of her Pavarotti Plus appearance at the Royal Albert Hall; The Three Sopranos, and Donizetti's Maria Stuarda, as well as three recordings on her own Goose Hollow label. A native of Barrington, Illinois, Ms. Esperian received her bachelor's degree in vocal performance from the University of Illinois, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Rhodes College in Memphis.

She has received numerous awards which include The Dorothy B. Chandler Award, The Mafalda Favero Award, The Arts and Humanities Award from the Germantown Arts Alliance, The Amphion Award from the Memphis Symphony, 2010 Emissary of Memphis Music, and most recently The Distinguished Achievement Award from the University of Memphis.