Michelle Pérez is a Mexican-American lyric soprano committed to sharing the transformative power of music with audiences and students. As a vocalist, she is known for her musicianship, her expressive interpretations, her technical mastery, and her comfort across musical genres. As an educator, she is an experienced teacher and passionate advocate for her students.

On the opera stage, Michelle’s performances are prized for their elegant lyricism, virtuosity, and compelling characterization. Equally commanding with soaring phrases and brilliant coloratura, Michelle has a broad repertoire. She recently performed the roles of Alcina in Handel’s Alcina with Opera Seme, Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors with both Arizona Lyric Opera and the Music on Site Festival (Kansas), and La Musica in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo with Arizona State University Opera. Michelle performed a number of other leading roles during her time at Arizona State University: La Contessa in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Pauline Viardot in the Arizona premiere of Michael Ching’s Notes on Viardot, Anne Truelove in Stravinsky’s The Rake's Progress, Marie in Donizetti’s La fille du régiment, Enyo in Nkeiru Okoye’s We’ve Got Our Eye On You, and Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel. She will reprise the role of La Contessa in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro at the Music on Site Festival (Kansas) during the 2025 season.

Michelle is a sought-after oratorio soloist and musical collaborator. Michelle performed Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the ASU Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the 2023 Concerto Competition. She has performed as soloist on major works for orchestra and chorale, including Fauré’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Kleine Orgelmesse, and the Lord Nelson Mass, Mozart’s Requiem, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, both Poulenc and Vivaldi’s Gloria, Ariel Ramirez’s Misa Criolla, Philip Glass’s Songs from Liquid Days, and Vaughn Williams’ Serenade to Music, among others. She has sung professionally with ensembles such as the Phoenix Chorale, Orpheus Chamber Singers, Tactus, the Fort Worth Chorale, The Choral Pickup, Dallas Choral Artists, St. Matthew’s Cathedral Artists, and Vox Humana. As a solo recitalist, she maintains an active schedule and has performed in venues across the country.

A consummate crossover vocalist, Michelle is able to move effortlessly between a wide variety of musical genres. As an Artist-in-Residence at the Mirabella retirement community from 2023-25, she programmed and performed weekly recitals, conducted the community chorus, and coordinated Broadway and themed Opera cabaret shows. She has performed regularly as a duo partner with contemporary horn player Charity Morrison, tenor and guitarist Carlos Barraza Treviño, and collaborative pianist Michael Shannon. Michelle’s love for a diverse range of repertoire is evident in her community-oriented concerts, which feature musical theater, folk rock, pop, jazz, and traditional Latin genres. Michelle’s upbringing within the Mexican-American musical communities of the Rio Grande Valley was a significant contributor to her multi-genre musical formation. She participated in her first Mariachi Cobre Extravaganza at the age of 10, and was a member of one of the historic first 28 Texas All-Region Mariachi ensembles in high school. As an ensemble leader and an accomplished violinist, she was in demand as a mariachi clinician for violin and voice across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and assisted with the University of North Texas Mariachi Aguilitas Summer Camps.

Michelle is a passionate educator in choral music and vocal pedagogy, dedicated to helping students discover the freedom of knowing and confidently using their own voice, developing solid musicianship as a foundation for lifelong artistry, and encouraging students to boldly reach for their highest musical aspirations. Michelle served for five years as Associate Director of Choral Activities in Texas at Mesquite High School, where her choirs consistently received Sweepstakes awards at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest. Her students regularly earned placement in Texas All-Region and All-State choirs and Superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble contests. Her teaching is marked by her commitment to cultivating vocal excellence through a disciplined, warm, and insightful approach. She holds Kodály Choral Track Certification (Levels I–III) and has directed choirs at the high school, middle school, and senior adult levels. Michelle also served in leadership roles with the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) as Region III Vocal Chair and Chair-Elect, supporting music education initiatives across multiple districts. Michelle taught voice at the collegiate level for two years as Teaching Assistant at Arizona State University, where she led group and individual lessons involving a wide range of styles, including classical, musical theatre, pop, and jazz, successfully preparing students for auditions and contests. Michelle is a lifelong advocate for creating inclusive and engaging learning environments across generational and cultural backgrounds where all students can thrive as confident, skilled performers.

Michelle earned a Master of Music degree in Opera Performance from Arizona State University, where she is currently completing a Doctor of Musical Arts with Carole Fitzpatrick. She holds an additional Master’s in Music Education from Southern Methodist University. Prior to her graduate studies, Michelle attended the University of North Texas with Jeffrey Snider, graduating with a Bachelor’s in Choral Music Education and a minor in Spanish.

Michelle’s past and present affiliations include the National Opera Association, National Association of Teachers Singing, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Music Association, American Choral Directors Association, The Daejeon International Choral Festival, Mu Phi Epsilon, Maestra Music, The Sphinx Organization, and Musicians United for Social Equity (MUSE). Michelle also serves as a board member for the Arizona Women’s Collaborative, a new works initiative guided by principles of community, cooperation, and the amplification of marginalized voices.

Michelle is from Weslaco, near the South Texas border, and is based in the Tri-State Area. Outside of her musical pursuits, Michelle is a well-traveled espresso connoisseur (with a particular penchant for a lavender breve cortado), and enjoys reading literature, boogie boarding at the beach, and spending time with friends over a home-baked pastry.