Michelle Mariposa is an award winning Filipino-Chinese mezzo-soprano, praised for her “rich, powerful mezzo.” (Parterre Box) This season, Michelle joins the Washington National Opera as a Cafritz Young Artist.

Michelle recently made her debut with the Opera Theater of Saint Louis, singing Maria Maddalena in Galileo Galilei, and Nirena in Julius Caesar, in a last minute jump-in. As a Gerdine Young Artist with OTSL, Michelle also covered the title role in Julius Caesar, and was awarded the Richard Gaddes Career Award in recognition of her extraordinary vocal potential and contribution to the festival season.

In the 2023-2024 season, Michelle made her company debut with Haymarket Opera as Damigella in Caccini’s Alcina. She joined Chicago Opera Theater and the Chicago College of Performing Arts as a young artist, where sang in the ensemble of Shostakovich’s The Nose, and covered the Countess and Podtochina. With COT, Michelle also premiered Gillian Rae Perry’s new opera, The Weight of Light. Additional engagements this past season include the title role in Carmen and her recital debuts with the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago and Chamber Music at Bethany.

Michelle has been a young artist with the Santa Fe Opera, where she covered Pastore 3 in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, and Teatro Nuovo, where she covered Calbo in Rossini’s rarely performed Maometto Secondo. Her other roles include Ruggiero in Handel’s Alcina, Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and the title role in Menotti's The Medium.

In concert, Michelle has performed as alto soloist in works such as Berio’s Sinfonia,  Handel’s Messiah, Bernstein’s Mass, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Bach's Magnificat and Cantatas 82 and 182, and Jenkin’s The Armed Man. As a recitalist, Michelle has enjoyed collaborations with the FilAm Music Foundation NFP, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago chamber ensembles. Michelle has premiered works by composers in both the Philippines and the United States, such as Jose Buencamino, Yanni Robiennol, Jai Saldajeño, and Gillian Rae Perry.

Michelle recently won the Lynne Cooper Harvey Foundation Award (top prize) in the Musicians Club of Women 2024 Vocal Competition. She was also named a winner of the Sullivan Award from the Sullivan Foundation, a winner of the Kentucky District round, and an Encouragement Award winner of the Central Region round of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Michelle is also a winner of the 2019 National Music Competition for Young Artists in her native Philippines, where she was also awarded Best Interpretation for the contest piece.

Michelle completed her Master's degree in Voice and Opera Performance at Northwestern University, and her Bachelor’s degree in Voice and Psychology at the University of the Philippines, both summa cum laude. Michelle has studied with Stephen Smith, Mark Crayton, Christopher Ong Arceo, Raymond Leslie Diaz, and Katherine Molina.