Jamie Chamberlin, soprano
Praised for her “shimmering tones” and “star struck vulnerability” by Opera News, Greek-American Soprano Jamie Chamberlin is recognized for her versatility as both a singer and as an actress.
ArtsInLA hailed her role debut as Cunegonde in Long Beach Operaʼs Candide as “jawdropping”. Most recently at LBO, Ms. Chamberlin earned rave reviews for her "soaring tone" (LA Weekly) and “superhuman soprano” (Schmopera) as Faustine in The Invention of Morel, a new opera by Stewart Copeland of the legendary rock band, The Police. In 2015, Chamberlin garnered national attention when she was selected to portray Marilyn Monroe in the US Premiere of Gavin Bryars’ Marilyn Forever in a haunting production by LBO’s visionary Artistic Director, Andreas Mitisek.
A gifted interpreter of new music, Ms. Chamberlin made her professional debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, singing the soprano solo in the World Premiere of EsaPekka Salonenʼs Wing on Wing during the inaugural season of the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Ms. Chamberlin created the powerhouse role of Elyn Saks in the World Premiere of Kenneth Wellsʼ The Center Cannot Hold (based on Saksʼ memoir of the same title), a co-production with UCLA and Pacific Opera Project, which continues to receive national attention for its impact in both the art and mental health communities. As a Young Artist, Jamie was selected to participate in the Merola Opera Program at San Francisco Opera, where her portrayal of troubled poetess Anne Sexton in Conrad Susaʼs Transformations was called “spellbinding” by SF Chronicleʼs Joshua Kosman.
The 2017 - 2018 season marked a return to LBO as The Foreign Woman in The Consul, starring Patricia Racette, Isolde in Martin's The Love Potion (Le Vin Herbé), and Hazel George in the US Premiere of Glassʼ "The Perfect American" (also at Chicago Opera Theater). Other season highlights include Ms. Chamberlin's debut of the title role in "Lucia di Lammermoor" with Pacific Opera Project, concert appearances as soprano soloist with the California Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra's Mahler's "Symphony No. 4" and Poulenc’s "Gloria." Recently, Jamie and her husband, tenor Nathan Granner curated a lecture recital featuring the operas of Left Coast Composers for LA Made and LBO.
As a Delos Recording Artist, Ms. Chamberlinʼs “ fresh-sounding, expressive soprano” (Opera News) has been praised for her work on "Terrain of the Heart", song cycles of Mark Abel. Ms. Chamberlin created the role of Lisa on the World Premiere Delos recording of Abelʼs 2016 Chamber Opera, Home is a Harbor. Jamie’s recognizable sound can also be heard during the epic water ballet scene in the 2016 Coen Brothers film Hail, Caesar!, for which she was handpicked by prolific film score composer, Carter Burwell.
A frequent artist with Los Angeles Opera, Ms. Chamberlin made her solo debut singing the High Priestess in Aida and the Cretan Woman in Idomeneo, with Plácido Domingo. Ms. Chamberlin has appeared extensively with the Pasadena Symphony and Louisville Orchestra under the baton of Jorgé Mester, an early champion in her career. Her repertoire has included Milhaudʼs Chants de Ronsard, Poulencʼs Gloria, Adamsʼ Grand Pianola Music and the Soprano I solo in Mozartʼs C Minor Mass. Jamie has also appeared with the Fort Collins Symphony singing Villa Lobosʼ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 and Mahlerʼs Fourth Symphony.
Jamie holds both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music Degrees from UCLA and is the recipient of many awards and scholarships from organizations which include The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, First Prize in the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation, Third Prize in the Inaugural José Iturbi International Music Competition, The Opera Buffs, The Pilsbury Foundation, and the Society of Singers.