Winner of Placido Domingo’s prestigious Operalia vocal competition in Beijing and winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, both in 2012, American soprano, JANAI BRUGGER, kicks off the 2012-13 season as Liu in Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Turandot at The Metropolitan Opera. She appears with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at the May Festival under the baton of James Conlon, and travels to China for a series of recitals. She rounds out the season with Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel as High Priestess Aida in performances at the Hollywood Bowl.

Recent successes include the artist’s appearance at Ravinia Festival with Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of James Conlon as First Lady Die Zauberflöte. As a member of the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program, Ms Brugger’s Los Angeles Opera appearances include Barbarina Le Nozze di Figaro under the baton of Placido Domingo, Page Rigoletto with James Conlon, and Musetta La Bohème with Patrick Summers. Cover assignments included the roles of Mrs Neruda Il Postino, Governess The Turn of the Screw, and Juliette Roméo et Juliette, a role in which she made her debut in a special appearance at Palm Beach Opera in 2010.

A native of Chicago, the artist obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan, where she studied with the late Shirley Verrett. She won her Bachelor’s degree from DePaul University where she studied with Elsa Charlston. In 2007, she appeared with Marilyn Horne at Carnegie Hall in “The Song Continues”. Ms Brugger appeared as Adina Elixir of Love with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in their ‘Opera in the Neighborhoods’ program and in 2010, she participated in The Merola Opera Program of San Francisco Opera, performing scenes from Massenet’s Werther and Nicolai’s Merry Wives of Windsor.

Her future engagements include Pamina Die Zauberflöte at Los Angeles Opera and at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, Liu Turandot at Hawaii Opera Theatre, and Michaela Carmen at Opera Colorado.