COURTNEY JOHNSON plays the role of Aida in Opera Maine’s 2024 production.

Soprano Courtney Johnson is a Virginia native who attended the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts, while performing with The Virginia Opera in their production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore. Her international appearances include performances in the cities of Novafeltria, Ravenna, and Rimini, Italy, participating in the Classic Lyric Arts program La Lingua della Lirica, studying the languages and cultures of classical vocal repertoire, focusing on training the principals of Italian bel canto.

Courtney made her professional debut with The Opera Orchestra of New York in Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, performing the role of Sofia in Verdi’s I Lombardi alla prima crociata. As a young artist, she joined the Glimmerglass Festival, covering the role of the 1st Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and covering The Lady-in-waiting in Verdi’s Macbeth. She later went on to make a highly successful Spoleto Festival debut as Clara in the historical and critically acclaimed new production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. In addition, she made her Carnegie Hall debut as the Soprano Soloist in the Vivaldi: Gloria and as the Soprano Soloist in the Rutter: Magnificat.

Highlights from her past seasons include performances with the Virginia Opera in their productions of Le Nozze di Figaro and The Sound of Music, singing the leading Soprano Chorus role with The Lincoln Center Theater’s preview production of Ricky Ian Gordon’s Intimate Apparel, reprising the role of Suor Angelica in Puccini’s Suor Angelica with the International Vocal Arts Institute, and performing as a Studio Artist with The Wolf Trap Opera.

Courtney’s prestigious awards include being a Semi-Finalist in The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a Second Prize Winner in The Gerda Lissner International Competition, a Third Prize Winner in The Opera Index Competition, and a Second Prize Winner in the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition. She has also been recognized as a Grant Recipient of the renowned George London Foundation, receiving the Encouragement Award.

Recently, Courtney returned to The Virginia Opera, debuting the role of Grimgerde in Wagner’s Die Walküre. She also joined The Metropolitan Opera in their new production of Terence Blanchard’s Champion, covering the role of Sadie Griffith.