Mezzo-soprano Lauren Paul is an emerging artist living in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2025, Lauren made house debuts and role debuts with Sarasota Opera and Opera Omaha. As a studio artist with Sarasota Opera, she made her company and role debut as Mamma Lucia in a double bill of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci. She will have another role debut with Sarasota Opera as Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro. In June, Lauren debuted as Rita the Rat in Tobias Picker’s Fantastic Mr. Fox with Opera Omaha. She will be returning to Opera Omaha for her role debut as Mrs. McLean in Susannah for their 2025-2026 season. Previously, Lauren has appeared on stage as Rossweisse in Die Walküre with TUNDI Productions,  Zita Donati in Gianni Schicchi,  La principessa in Suor Angelica, and Bradamante in Alcina with University of South Dakota Opera. Lauren has performed as a mezzo soloist in Messiah with the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra. In 2024, Lauren was a Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. While in St. Louis, she covered Cornelia in Julius Caesar as well as The Scribe, Maria Maddalena, and ensemble in Galileo Galilei. In addition to her covers, she performed in the Center Stage concert and in the choruses of La Boheme and Julius Caesar.

During the 2023-24 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Lauren was named a winner in the Nebraska district and advanced to the Upper Midwest regional competition where she received an encouragement award. In addition to her success with the Laffont Competition, Lauren also placed third at the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) National Student Auditions in the Advanced Treble category in 2023. She has also been selected as a regional finalist and advanced to the national preliminaries and quarterfinals for this same competition in 2021 and 2022. She also placed second in the Graduate Classical division at North Dakota NATS in 2023, first in both Graduate Classical and Upper College Treble Musical Theatre at South Dakota NATS in spring 2022. Outside of NATS, Lauren placed first in the South Dakota MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) Young Artist Voice Competition in Fall 2021 and was the 2021-2022 winner of the University of South Dakota’s Concerto Aria Competition.

Lauren received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2019 from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where she studied with Dr. Courtney Sherman. In May 2023, she graduated with her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of South Dakota where she studied with Dr. Tracelyn Gesteland. Lauren is currently a student of New York City-based soprano Kirsten Chambers.