(She/Her) Cara Bender is an operatic soprano from Corning, New York. As a 2025 Apprentice Artist with Chautauqua Opera, Cara makes her role debut as Mimì in La bohème and covers renowned soprano Christine Goerke as The Reverend in an orchestrated concert reading of Missy Mazzoli's new opera, Lincoln in the Bardo, commissioned by The Metropolitan Opera. Earlier this season, Cara was a finalist in the Mildred Miller International Voice Competition and a National Finalist of The American Prize Chamber Music Award.