Aria Minasian, mezzo-soprano
Aria Minasian, mezzo-soprano
Known for “dazzling the audience” with her “truly spectacular” performances, mezzo-soprano Aria Minasian has garnered acclaim for possessing artistry and vocal powers that are “a rare gift to hear onstage” (Arts at Michigan). Ms. Minasian has performed everything from classical masterpieces, such as Donna Elvira and Orfeo, to debuting numerous world premieres, such as the Clerk in Damien Geter’s Loving v. Virginia, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg in Grammy-Award Winning composer Christopher Theofanidis’ Door Out of the Fire, and portraying contemporary operas like Pulitzer-Prize Winning composer Kevin Puts’ Elizabeth Cree, with Aria as the title role.
Exciting upcoming performances in the 2025-2026 season include a role debut as Vitellia in a concert version of Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito with the City Choir of Washington in DC, as well as performing as the Alto Soloist in Martines’ Dixit Dominus and Soprano II Soloist in Haydn’s Missa brevis. Next, Aria makes her debut in her home state of Washington at Pacific Northwest Opera in Seattle as Der Komponist in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos this spring.
Aria was thrilled to be a Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera for 2025 & 2024, covering the title role in Bizet’s Carmen, Blanche de la Force in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, Madeleine Audebert in Puts’ Silent Night, and Anna 1 in Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins. Additionally, Aria was delighted to be a Herndon Foundation Emerging Artist with Virginia Opera for the 50th Anniversary season, covering Donna Elvira & Zerlina, performing Mercédès in Carmen, covering Dorabella, performing scenes as Nedda, Mimi, and Maddalena throughout the year at galas and concerts, and performing the Clerk and covering Lola Loving in the world premiere of Damien Geter’s Loving v. Virginia, directed by Denyce Graves.
Recent debuts include Giovanna in Verdi’s Rigoletto with Pacific Symphony, the Alto Soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Dexter Community Orchestra, and the title role in Roberto Sierra’s I am Carmen Miranda with the Contemporary Directions Ensemble.
A graduate of Lawrence University Conservatory of Music as a Presidential Scholarship recipient and the University of Michigan as a Full Merit Scholarship recipient, Aria is a winner of the George Shirley Award, a Uihlein Career Grant Recipient, a District Winner and Encouragement Award Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, 2nd Prize winner of the Seattle Opera Guild Vocal Competition, 1st Prize winner of the Friends of Opera Competition, and Grand Prize Winner of the Patricia Crump Vocal Competition. Aria trained as a classical pianist for over a decade winning awards before finding her passion for opera. For full bio and information, please visit www.ariaminasian.com.