Chea Kang is a Korean soprano celebrated for her creativity, originality, and unique vocal expression. Born in Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Deokso, South Korea, Chea has been developing her artistry in the United States since 2014 and is currently based in San Francisco. Her recent performances include covering the role of "Papagena" in The Magic Flute at the San Francisco Opera in 2024, following her debut as "Sister Catherine" in Dialogues of the Carmelites in 2022.

Chea earned her Bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School and a Master’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she is now pursuing an Artist Diploma under César Ulloa. Her accolades include second prize in the 2024 Handel Aria Competition, the Encouragement Award in the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition in 2024, and a semifinalist award in the 2024 Concert Artists Guild competition. Additionally, she was a young artist at the Georg Solti Accademia in 2023.

Chea’s extensive repertoire spans baroque, bel canto, romantic, and contemporary music. She has performed leading roles in Handel and Mozart operas at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and collaborated as a soloist with several Baroque ensembles, including Sinfonia Spirituosa and Ensemble Affect. In 2024, she was awarded the Pankonin Award to perform a newly written song cycle by Theo Popov. Chea will also debut the role of "Henrietta Wong" in the contemporary opera Harvey Milk Reimagined with Opera Parallèle in 2025.

Embracing her multicultural heritage, Chea incorporates diverse cultural influences into her performances, singing everything from Korean traditional folk songs and Japanese film music to art songs and arias in multiple languages. As a visual artist, Chea also integrates other forms of art into her work, seeking to deepen the connection with her audiences. Notably, she was a soloist in Lee Mingwei’s Sonic Blossom exhibition, part of Rituals of Care at the De Young Museum in San Francisco and the M+ Museum in Hong Kong, where she helped facilitate an intimate, interactive experience between the singer and the audience.

Chea’s innovative approach extends to her co-directed recital Kunst Traum, created with mezzo-soprano Hope Nelson. This hour-long, uninterrupted performance combines music, acting, and improvised movement, challenging the audience to engage with the art in its purest form. Both Sonic Blossom and Kunst Traum can be viewed on Chea’s website (cheakang.com).