Soprano Sara Tillett, from Miami, FL, is a recent graduate of the Professional Studies Diploma program at Mannes School of Music in NYC where she performed as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and under-studied Zerlina in Don Giovanni as part of the Da Ponte Opera Project taught by Omer Ben Seadia, Daniela Candillari, and Emma Griffin. Previous roles include Belinda (Dido and Aeneas), Despina (Cosi fan tutte), Cugina (Madama Butterfly), Novizia (Suor Angelica), Lady in Blue (Pinnochio), Lucy (Billy Goats Gruff), Carlotta/L’Ipnotizzatore (Il Ciambellone), Hodel (Fiddler on the Roof), Marian Paroo (The Music Man), and Cinderella (Into the Woods). Ms. Tillett has also been seen in opera scenes as Manon (Manon), Sœur Constance (Dialogues des Carmélites), and Adele (Die Fledermaus). Last October Ms. Tillett stepped in on short notice to debut the role of Annina in La Traviata with New Jersey Lyric Opera. She reprised this role in January and will perform as the cover of Adina in NJ Lyric Opera’s upcoming production of L’elisir d’amore this February.

On the concert stage, Ms. Tillett performed Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Dona Nobis Pacem with the US Army War College and Dickinson College as part of a two-week symposium on War, Justice, and Peace in April 2022. At Mannes Sounds Festival 2019, Ms. Tillett performed selections from Bedrīch Smetana’s Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride) and took part in a collaborative performance with Czech folk group Spirituál Kvintet at Bohemian National Hall in New York City. In 2017, as part of AIMS in Graz, Austria, she performed in an orchestra masterclass with Maestro Marius Stieghorst, assistant conductor to Philippe Jourdan at the Opera national de Paris. Ms. Tillett debuted with the Dickinson Concerto Orchestra in 2017 performing Swedish composer Laci Boldemann’s Four Epitaphs, Op. 1, following her performance of J.S. Bach’s solo cantata Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut in recital the day before. Sara Tillett has also performed as the soprano soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria in D Major, Dvorak’s Mass in D Minor, and Rutter’s Magnificat.

Ms. Tillett has been a Principal Artist at Utah Vocal Arts Academy/Utah Lyric Opera’s Summer Program, and a Young Artist with Mannes Opera, and OC Ars Vocalis in Rome, Italy. Sara Tillett is a winner of the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 Eastern Regional NATS competitions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dickinson College, a Master of Music from SUNY Binghamton, and a Professional Diploma in Opera from The Mannes School of Music.

She currently studies with Jack LiVigni, Luke Housner, Ting Ting Wong, and Marc Verzatt.