Colorado Springs native, Meg Brilleslyper is a mezzo-soprano and recent graduate of the Eastman School of Music (‘23) in the studio of Katherine Ciesinski. After graduation, Ms. Brilleslyper attended the Young Artists’ Vocal Academy at Houston Grand Opera under the vocal instruction of Dr. Stephen King. Following that program, Ms. Brilleslyper returned to the Aspen Music Festival as a Studio Artist and will once again have the pleasure of working with Patrick Summers, Renée Flemming, Rachelle Flemming, Robin Rice, and Besty Bishop. In August 2023, Ms. Brilleslyper began her graduate studies at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in the studio of Robin Rice. Upcoming roles include Filipyevna* in Eugene Onegin, Lucretia* in The Rape of Lucretia, and Bianca in The Rape of Lucretia at the Shepherd School. 

In the summer of 2020, Ms. Brilleslyper sang the role of Nancy in Miami Beach Music Festival’s Albert Herring. Her roles with Eastman Opera Theatre include The Foreign Singer in Postcard from Morocco, Pane in La Calisto, Granny/Witch Cover in Into the Woods, and Ruggiero in Alcina. Outside of opera, Ms. Brilleslyper enjoys singing concert repertoire as well as oratorio. While at Eastman, Ms. Brilleslyper was selected as the alto soloist for three Bach Cantatas (BWV 132, 33, 34) in the Eastman Cantata Series as well as the alto soloist for Beethoven’s Mass in C Major and Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with the Eastman Philharmonia. An avid art song performer and lover, Ms. Brilleslyper presented Rossini’s La regata veneziana with the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra in November 2022 as the most recent winner of the Eastman Concerto Competition. Ms. Brilleslyper received an Encouragement Award in this year’s Schmidt Vocal Institute Undergraduate Voice Competition. In May 2023, Meg won first prize in the Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition and performed a recital consisting of a variety of lieder.

In addition to her vocal performance degree studies, Ms. Brilleslyper was an Arts Leadership Certificate Candidate at Eastman’s Institute for Music Leadership. As recent inductee of Pi Kappa Lambda and the recipient of the Eastman School of Music Ornest Award for excellence in academic and musical endeavors, Ms. Brilleslyper values the intersection of music, leadership, and academic achievement. Ms. Brilleslyper served as the 2022-2023 President of the Students’ Association as well as the Secretary of Sigma Alpha Iota at Eastman. She was Student Alumni Ambassador and held the role of Resident Advisor during her sophomore and junior year. During her time at the Aspen Music Festival, Ms. Brilleslyper was selected as a Student Ambassador and resumed that position this past season. 

When not singing or studying; she enjoys all things physical fitness and the outdoors. Ms. Brilleslyper worked as an Experience Coordinator and Boxing Instructor at VAULT Cycle + Fitness, a local boutique gym, and worked at Pure Barre throughout her time in Aspen. Meg is passionate about the intersection of music and physical fitness as well as music and medicine. Outside of singing, Ms. Brilleslyper enjoys hiking, cooking, and traveling with her friends and family! 

*Denotes cover role