Opera News describes JAN CORNELIUS as a “wonderfully attractive soprano with a solid core, tipped with a silvery edge.” Ms. Cornelius has enjoyed success singing the roles of Fiordilidgi (Cosí fan tutte), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Donna Anna and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Micaela, (Carmen), the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, as well as both Musetta and Mimi in La Boheme. She has sung leading roles with Fort Worth Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Birmingham Opera, Atlanta Opera and Virginia Opera. Internationally, she has sung with Oldenburg State Theater,Theater Hof, and the Festival Lyrique de Belle-Ile en Mer. Most recently she made her debut with The Lake Houston Musical Arts Society to much acclaim singing the soprano solo of Verdi’s Requiem.

She is a graduate of the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts where she sang a wide repertory of roles including Arabella (Arabella), Giorgetta (Il tabarro), Countess Madeline (Capriccio), Anna Bolena, Silvana (La Fiamma), and Violetta (La traviata).

Ms. Cornelius has distinguished herself in numerous competitions. She most recently won the Ft. Worth Opera/Mc Cammon Opera Guild Competition, as well as receiving a top prize in the Marcello Giordani Competition. She has earned first prize in the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition and the Gerda Lissner Vocal Competition. In both 2009 and 2010, she represented the Mid-Atlantic Region as a semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition and received grants from Opera Index. Jan currently resides in Houston,Texas with her two children, bass-baritone, Ben LeClair, and enjoys a successful teaching career along side her current singing engagements.

This is Ms. Cornelius’ third production with the Summer Garden Opera.