Hailing from Durham, North Carolina, 23-year-old mezzo-soprano Isabelle Kosempa is earning her master’s degree at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she studies with Professor Nova Thomas.

In early 2025, Isabelle received an Encouragement Award from the Houston District of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Shortly thereafter, she was featured in the Shepherd School’s Aleko Endowed Masterclass Artist Series, performing the role of Flosshilde in a scene from Wagner’s Das Rheingold under the direction of Ryan and Tonya McKinny. She concluded the semester with her Shepherd School Opera debut as Samira in The Ghosts of Versailles, directed by Patricia Racette and conducted by Ben Manis—with composer John Corigliano in attendance. Now in her second and final year at the Shepherd School, Isabelle looks forward to singing the role of Meg Page in three performances of Verdi’s Falstaff.

This summer, Isabelle joins Festival Napa Valley as a Manetti Shrem Opera Fellow. In addition to participating in masterclasses and coachings, she will perform Charlotte’s “Air des lettres” from Massenet’s Werther with orchestra. She will also appear in an opera scenes concert, performing Leonora in La Favorita and Dorabella in Così fan tutte, also with orchestra. She originates the role of Patricia Gallagher in a workshop of the prologue of Jake Heggie's new opera, The Judgement of Paris. To conclude her summer, Isabelle performs the role of Notre Dame in the world premiere of the French version of Bohuslav Martinů’s one-act opera Mariken de Nimègue with the Bard Music Festival. She also appears in the festival’s closing production of Martinů’s surreal opera Julietta, conducted by Leon Botstein, singing the roles of the Young Arab, First Man, Young Sailor, and Bellhop.

Over the past two years, Isabelle has been a dedicated Young Artist at the Brevard Music Center, where she has embraced a wide range of performance and touring opportunities. In 2023, she made her debut with the Janiec Opera Company, covering the role of Flora in Verdi’s La traviata and performing in concert alongside Broadway icon Patti LuPone. In early 2024, she joined the Brevard preseason tour and later returned that summer to the Janiec Opera Company to make her role debut as the Minskwoman in a new production of Jonathan Dove’s Flight, conducted by Joseph Mechavich and directed by Dean Anthony. She also appeared as a featured soloist in a Jerome Kern tribute concert, accompanied by acclaimed music director Andy Einhorn. In December, Isabelle was invited back as the alto soloist for a performance of Handel’s Messiah.

Isabelle earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied with Dr. Jeanne Fischer. She performed actively with UNC Opera, singing roles such as Ottone in L’incoronazione di Poppea, the Gingerbread Witch in Hansel and Gretel, and Fidalma in Il matrimonio segreto. She was also a winner of the UNC Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.

A dedicated advocate for contemporary music, Isabelle premiered two major new works during her time at UNC. She was the mezzo-soprano soloist in The Mending Sampler, a collaboration between historian Dr. John Wood Sweet and composer Dr. C. Leonard Raybon, inspired by Sweet's award winning book The Sewing Girl’s Tale. She also performed as a soloist in the premiere of Javier Farías’ La Voz de Monica, a powerful work chronicling a woman’s journey across the Mexico–U.S. border.

In summer 2022, Isabelle attended Songfest at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she was one of four Studio Artists to receive the prestigious Songfest Schubert Fellow Scholarship. She also won first place in the NATS National Student Auditions in Chicago, earning the Dorothy Sawatski Prize.

Isabelle is thankful for the formative experiences that have shaped her artistic identity and deepened her commitment to a life of performance. Beyond the stage, she enjoys jazz, rainy days, and playing the piano.