Lisa van der Ploeg, mezzo-soprano

Mezzo-soprano Lisa van der Ploeg has captivated audiences worldwide

with her rich, lustrous sound and electrifying stage presence.

Born in California, and raised in Denmark Lisa returned to her native

lands where she was encouraged to pursue classical vocal studies.

Her early professional career include notable performances with

Maestro Raymond Leppard and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

in productions of the Barber of Seville and the Three Cornered Hat.

Lisa earned her Master’s of Music degree from the Indiana

University Jacobs School of Music and was subsequently selected for

the prestigious San Francisco Opera Center’s Merola Program where

she sang the title role of Carmen. Her concert highlights include

stirring renditions of Mahler’s Symphonies No. 2 and 3, Brahms’ Alto

Rhapsody, Bach’s B-minor Mass, Mozart’s Requiem and

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

Over her career, Lisa has performed a diverse array of over 45

roles spanning a repertoire from Handel to Verdi. Her notable roles

include Amneris in Aida, Azucena in Il Trovatore, Mother in Amahl

and the Night Visitors, the Witch and Mother in Hansel and Gretel,

the Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, Katisha in The Mikado

and the title roles in Giulio Cesare and Orlando. She has graced the

stages of the Dayton Philharmonic, Stockton Symphony, Tulsa

Symphony, Utah Festival Opera and Intermountain Opera

collaborating with esteemed conductors such as Raymond Leppard,

Benjamin Zander, Daniel Hege, and Neal Gittleman.

Passionate about guiding others to mental and vocal freedom,

Lisa recently opened “The Heart of Your Voice” yoga studio, where

she teaches both yoga and singing. She has bewitched her

audiences from coast to coast with compelling recitals of art songs,

musical theater and opera arias. Her favorite programs include It’s

delightful! It’s Cole Porter!, Christkindlemarkt, Beautiful Dreamer, and

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.