Brennan Blankenship, praised as a “thrilling” American soprano "reminiscent of the Golden Age of singers," is an exciting and versatile performer quickly establishing herself in the opera world.
Ms. Blankenship’s 2025 season is highlighted by a return to Kentucky to perform Krystyna Zywulska in Jake Heggie/ Gene Scheer’s ANOTHER SUNRISE, a one-woman opera performed with Kentucky Ballet in collaboration with Kentucky Opera. She then makes her debut at Opera Idaho as Annina/ Violetta cover in LA TRAVIATA. Ending the operatic season in Houston, Brennan returns to HOPERA in Mozart’s THE PRODUCER (DER SCHAUSPEILDIREKTOR) as Madame Silberklang, renamed Barbara Seville.
Ms. Blankenship’s 2023-2024 season includes a return to Opera North in a role debut as Julie Jordan/CAROUSEL, her house and role debut as Mabel in Kentucky Opera’s production of PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and her role debut of Michaëla in Hopera’s inaugural production of Carmen, a new company of which she is a founder and Executive Director.
Recently she debuted the role of Violetta with Opera North’s production of LA TRAVIATA in the summer of 2022. In January of 2020, Brennan realized that her voice felt more at home in soprano repertoire, and decided to switch. She was slated to join Michigan Opera Theater’s Young Artist Program for the 2020-22 seasons as a transitioning soprano, but was unfortunately canceled due to COVID.
During the summer of 2019, Ms. Blankenship sang the leading role of Brittomara in Jake Heggie/Gene Scheer’s world premiere of IF I WERE YOU as an artist at the Merola Opera Program.
Other notable roles from her mezzo-soprano years include Cherubino/ LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Rosina/IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, Fox/ CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN, Hermia/ A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Meg Page/ FALSTAFF, Mrs. Noye/NOVE’S FLUDDE (Britten), and Jo and Meg/LITTLE WOMEN. Oratorio and concert works include Bach’s Magnificat, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, and Handel’s Messiah.
A strong proponent of art song, Ms. Blankenship toured the Midwest performing Moritz Moszkowski’s song cycle Thraenen with collaborative partner Joseph Welch during the Spring of 2019.
Training programs and apprenticeships include the Merola Opera Program, Kentucky Opera’s Sanford Studio Artist Program, Canto Vocal Program, Berlin Opera Academy, and Mill City Summer Opera.
Competition winnings include 2nd place at the Dorothy Nocity Vocal Competition hosted by the Palm Springs Opera Guild of the Desert after winning as a finalist in previous years, as well as winning First Prize in the 2019 and 2017 Young Texas Artists Music Competition. She has been a semi-finalist in Montserrat Caballé International Competition, The Sullivan Competition, The George London Competition, and Opera Index Competition.
Ms. Blankenship holds degrees from University of Minnesota and Pepperdine University.