American opera singer, Erica Thelen, is a young dramatic coloratura soprano. She currently studies with Rhoslyn Jones, while obtaining her M.M. at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She received her B.M. in Voice Performance from Oberlin Conservatory studying with Marlene Rosen and Kendra Colton. Her recent performances include the First Lady(Die Zauberflöte) with the Santa Rosa Symphony, and opera scenes performances at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music including the title role in Alcina, Fiordiligi(Cosí fan tutte), and Sister Rose(The Dead Man Walking). During her time at Oberlin, she created the role of the Mermaid/Mother in the world premiere of The Wild Beast of the Bungalow by Rachel J. Peters, performed as Elisetta (Il Matrimonio Segreto), and opera scenes performances as Roselinda (Die Fledermaus) and Anne Trulove (The Rake’s Progress). Her summer festival role credits include Musetta(La Bohème) with the Brancaleoni International Music Festival, and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) with LAH-SOW Minneapolis. Prior to her collegiate career, Erica was an apprentice artist in the Minnesota Opera: Project Opera Program, where she created the role of Natalie in the world premiere of The Memory Boy by Renaldo Moya, and played The Emperor in The Nightingale by Imant Ramisch. She has had the privilege to sing in master classes for the esteemed, Christine Goerke and Howard Watkins. Erica is from Minnesota and grew up in a musical family. She has very fond memories of watching her parents on stage in community theater productions, as well as listening to her Mother teach voice lessons and sing in the Minnesota Opera Chorus. Erica’s greatest career goal is to inspire others with music like her parents inspired her.

Erica is the recipient of The Martha Marcks Mack Award and the Glendorn Foundation Scholarship Fund.