Ivy Zhou is a lyric coloratura soprano currently active in Seattle as an opera singer, church musician, and voice teacher. “Fearless” and “charming,” her voice has been described as “warm,” “shimmering,” and “present…with an easy top and fioritura.”
Ms. Zhou has brought her characteristic vivacity and vocal dynamism to leading and supporting roles in over 300 performances. In spring of 2022, she made her debut with Nashville Opera as a Mary Ragland Emerging Artist, singing Countess Ceprano and the Page and covering Gilda in their production of Rigoletto Noir. In 2021, she made a tour-de-force role debut as Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte) at Pacific Lutheran University, which she later reprised at Duke Opera Theatre. Ms. Zhou also made a splashy company debut with Opera Columbus in 2021 as Musetta in La Bohème. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Zhou remained active during the 2020 season, which saw her as Kenzie in Seattle Opera’s filmed production of Earth to Kenzie, the Voice in Ricky Ian Gordon’s chamber piece Orpheus and Euridice with Dacha Theater, and featured in various virtual recitals with organizations such as Wear Yellow Proudly and Capitol Arts Workshop.
Other roles performed include the Rose (The Little Prince), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mabel (Pirates of Penzance), Chloe (Princess Ida), Cinderella (Cinderella en España), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Rosa (Angel of the Amazon), Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Giulietta (I Capuleti e i Montecchi), and Adele (Die Fledermaus).
A versatile vocalist, Ms. Zhou has also been fortunate to sing in excellent vocal ensembles, including the premier choral programs at Epiphany Parish of Seattle (current) and the Protocathedral of St. James the Greater in Vancouver, WA, as well as Portland’s acclaimed Resonance Ensemble, which presents socially conscious programming.
In addition to her performance schedule, Ms. Zhou also maintains an active voice studio. She loves passing on the joy and art of musical storytelling to young singers. Lessons cover music fundamentals, vocal technique, and age-appropriate repertoire, selected by the teacher with student input, with a classical/choral/legit musical theatre emphasis.
Ms. Zhou received a Metropolitan National Council encouragement award in 2017 and was a finalist in the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition in 2018.
Originally from the East coast, Ms. Zhou received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College, under the tutelage of Laura Brooks Rice. Aside from singing, Ms. Zhou enjoys flowers, art museums, antique jewelry, cats, and good food.
