Mezzo-soprano Lauren Nicholls, from Richmond, Virginia, recently completed her master's degree in Vocal Performance at the Jacobs School of Music, where she studied under the tutelage of Jane Dutton. This past spring she performed scenes at Jacobs as Principessa from Adriana Lecouvreur, Charlotte from Werther, and Ms. Quickly from Falstaff. She also sung the alto solo in Mahler's 2nd Symphony with the Indiana University Chorale led by Chris Albanese and conducted by Jeffery Meyer. Previous Jacobs role credits include Dinah in Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti and Aloès in Chabreir's L'Étoile. At Jacobs, she has performed in the choruses of Carmen, Kavalier and Clay (a Metropolitan Opera co-production and world premiere with the IUOT), Eugene Onegin, Roméo et Juliette, Candide, H.M.S Pinafore, and Die Zauberflöte. Last summer she sang the role of Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Trentino Music Festival. Other highlights include Cornelia (Giulio Cesare), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice), Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), and Madame de la Haltière (Cendrillon). Awards include an Encouragement Award at the 2025 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in the Indiana District and the Cox and Koch Merit Award (2nd Place) at the National Society of Arts and Letters 2025 competition in the Indiana Chapter.