ABOUT

Praised for her “opulent, richly colored mezzo”, Julianna Smith is an enthusiastic performer from Towson, Maryland, USA, and an incoming member of the Wiener Staatsoper Opernstudio. She recently finished her residency at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, PA, where she performed as Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Meg Page in Falstaff, and Siebel in Gounod’s Faust. A National Semifinalist in the 2026 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Julianna sang on the Metropolitan Opera stage as one of 23 singers after winning the Maryland District and Middle Atlantic Region.

Julianna performed the title role in the American premiere of Louise Bertin’s Fausto, during Opera Neo’s 15th Anniversary Season. She joined the company a year prior as Mitrena in Vivaldi’s recently rediscovered opera, Motezuma, for which she received positive reviews. Other highlights of the 2025/2026 season: she made her debut as Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito in concert with the City Choir of Washington and Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with Maryland Opera. In the summer of 2025, Smith was a Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera, where she covered the role of Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro and Mercédès in Carmen and performed as Seour Valentine in Dialogues des Carmélites. Smith was a Studio Artist during the 75th Anniversary Season of the Aspen Music Festival in 2024, where she covered the role of Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, and performed as Zita in Gianni Schicchi and as Siegrune in Act III of Die Walküre alongside Greer Grimsley and Christine Goerke. Other career highlights include masterclasses with both Renée Fleming and Joyce Didonato, and collaborating with Jake Heggie for the preview concert of his new opera, Before It All Goes Dark, that was commissioned and produced by Music of Remembrance.

An avid competitive singer, some of her notable awards include Second Place in the Mario Lanza Institute Scholarship Competition, Third Place in the Mildred Miller International Voice Competition, Encouragement Award from the Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, Third Place in the Grand Concours Vocal Competition in Austin, Texas, the Larry West Award from the student division of the Orpheus Vocal Competition, Farwell Award from the Musicians Club of Women in Chicago, IL, and an Encouragement Award from the Camille Coloratura Awards in her hometown.

Smith is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she performed numerous operatic roles, namely Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Ruggiero in Alcina, Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte, and Leona’s Mother in the midwest premiere of Christopher Cerrone’s In a Grove. In her time at Northwestern, Smith sang in a masterclass for Joyce DiDonato and gave a recital detailing how vocal and human development go hand in hand. Smith holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Maryland. (Go Terps!) She is a proud Marylander and enjoys using Old Bay Seasoning to add life to all of her food.

This season, she performs Laura in Luisa Miller, Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte für Kinder, Zweiter Knappe in Parsifal, and Sumpfhexe/Maronifrau in Die Kleine Hexe with the Wiener Staatsoper. She also participates in the Sängerwettstreit #3 Gala-Konzert in the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach Germany, featuring singers from Opera Studios across the world.