Black Mexican-American soprano, Kristen Marie Gillis, is a rising young artist - sharing her passion for the art on both opera and concert stages.

Her 24/25 season opens with her company debut as a Tomita Young Artist with Finger Lakes Opera and role debut as a Nella in Gianni Schicchi. Kristen will also cover the leading role of Florine in the world-premiere of B.E. Boykin and Jarrod Lee’s Two Corners. She will also be featured as a soloist in community engagement performances, as well as FLO’s Juneteenth program and the “Out Loud at the M.A.G.” concert. Beginning in September, Kristen is excited to be joining Opera Orlando‘s Studio Artist program. She will make her company and role debut as ‘Lady in Waiting’ in Macbeth; with later credits including ‘Noemi’ in Cendrillon, ‘Sophie’ in Werther, ‘Hero’ in Beatrice and Bendict, as well as covering ‘Lola’ in Cavalleria Rusticana. Ms. Gillis will also be featured as a principal artist, portraying the role of ‘Lucy’ in Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha.

Highlights from her 23/24 season include making her professional debut with Central City Opera as a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Studio Artist. There, she was featured in scenes as ‘Madeline’ in Henry Mollicone’s Face on the Barroom Floor, ‘Fiordiligi’ (Cosi fan tutte), and ‘Countess Rosina Almaviva’ (Le nozze di Figaro). Kristen also presented a recital as part of CCO’s “Lunch and a Song” recital series. In Fall 2023, Ms. Gillis joined Opera Ithaca‘s Apprentice Artist program where she made her company debut as the ‘First Wood-sprite’, ‘Turnspit’, as well as covering the titular role of Rusalka. In competition, she was named a Winner of the Gigli International Scholarship Competition, Semi-Finalist in both the Artist Division of the Camille Coloratura Competition and the SAS Performing Arts Company Voice Competition, and will compete in the Opera Division of the Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition.

In her 22/23 season, Kristen was seen on stage as ‘Eliza’ in Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters, ‘Mutter’ (Hansel und Gretel), and in scenes as ‘Donna Anna’ (Don Giovanni) and the title role of Norma - all with Temple Opera Theater. In concert, Ms. Gillis was the Soprano I soloist in Mozart’s Missa in C minor with the Abilene Christian University A Cappella Chorus. She also joined the Vocal Immersion Program at Castleton Festival as a Resident Artist. In competition, Kristen was named a Winner of the Career Bridges Grant Awards, Third Prize Winner of the Mario Lanza Scholarship Competition. Winner of the Boyer College of Music and Dance Student Soloist Competition - later performing Violetta’s Act I aria, “Sempre libera” with the Temple University Symphony Orchestra. She also advanced as a Semi-Finalist in the Dallas Opera Guild Biennial Lonestar Vocal Competition and was a Finalist in the Opera Ithaca Edward M. Murray International Competition of Voice.

In previous seasons, Ms. Gillis was seen on stage as ‘Countess Rosina Almaviva’ (Le nozze di Figaro), ‘Second Lady’ (Die Zauberflote), ‘Lauretta’ (Gianni Schicchi), the title role of Puccini’s Suor Angelica, and in scenes as ‘Cunegone’ (Candide), ‘Carolina’ (Il matrimonio segreto), ‘Marschallin’ (Der Rosenkavalier), Arabella and Susannah. Kristen has been the Soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Faure’s Requiem, and Hadyn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai. In competition, she has previously competed in the formerly named Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions as a Midwest Regional Finalist after being named a Winner of the Tulsa District. Ms. Gillis is an alumnus of Red River Lyric Opera and Taos Opera Institute summer training programs.

Kristen currently resides in Philadelphia, PA, where she continues her studies with mezzo-soprano Kathryn Leemhuis. Originally from Texas, she is a proud first-generation college graduate - holding degrees from Temple University and Abilene Christian University.