Julianna Smith, mezzo-soprano
Julianna Smith, mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano Julianna Smith, from Towson, MD, is currently a Resident Artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, PA. This season, she will perform Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro and Meg Page in Falstaff.
In the summer of 2025, Smith was a Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera and an Apprentice Artist with Opera Neo. At Wolf Trap, she covered the role of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro and Mercédès in Carmen and performed as Seour Valentine in Dialogues des Carmélites. Smith also performed as Mitrena in Opera Neo’s production of Vivaldi’s recently rediscovered opera, Motezuma, for which she received positive reviews.
Smith was a Studio Artist during the 75th Anniversary Season of the Aspen Music Festival in 2024, where she covered the role of Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, and performed as Siegrune in Act III of Die Walküre alongside Greer Grimsley and Christine Goerke.
Smith is an avid competitive singer. In the 2024-2025 season, she was awarded Second Place in the Mario Lanza Institute Scholarship Competition, Third Place in the Mildred Miller International Voice Competition, and an Encouragement Award from the Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition. 2023-2024 season, she received an Encouragement Award from the Kansas City District of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, was awarded Third Place in the Grand Concours Vocal Competition, received the Larry West Award from the student division of the Orpheus Vocal Competition, a Farwell Award from the Musicians Club of Women in Chicago, IL, and an Encouragement Award from the Camille Coloratura Awards in her hometown.
Some of Smith’s favorite alto soloist credits include: Lera Auerbach’s Symphony No. 6 at Festival Napa Valley, Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the Philharmonic Society of Arlington, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater in Lynnfield, MA, and Chris Thile’s autobiographical musical work, Attention! at Aspen Music Festival.
Smith is a recent graduate of Northwestern University, where she performed numerous operatic roles, namely Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Ruggiero in Alcina, Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte, and Leona’s Mother in the midwest premiere of Christopher Cerrone’s In a Grove. In her time at Northwestern, Smith sang in a masterclass for Joyce DiDonato and gave a recital detailing how vocal and human development go hand in hand.
Smith was previously a Vocal Fellow of the Manetti Shrem Opera Program at Festival Napa Valley in 2023, and spent a semester abroad in Vienna, Austria, as a student of the IES: Music program. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Maryland. (Go Terps!)