Kristen Marie Gillis

American soprano Kristen Marie Gillis is studying under the tutelage of Dr. Kathryn Leemhuis while pursuing her M.M. in Voice Performance at Temple University.
In 2020, Ms. Gillis made her role debut as the Second Lady in the Texas Tech Opera Theater’s production of Mozart “Die Zauberflöte”. Her other roles include Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), and the title role of Suor Angelica. She has also previously studied the role of Madame Lidoine in “Dialogues of the Carmelites” with the Texas Tech Opera Theatre. Although postponed due to Covid-19, Kristen was accepted into the Varna International program as a principal artist to perform the role of Roselinde in “Die Fledermaus”.

In concert, Ms. Gillis has been a soloist in Handel’s Messiah with both The Lubbock Chorale and Amarillo Opera. She has also been the soprano soloist in Fauré’s Requiem and Hadyn’s Missa Nicolai Sancti with the Abilene Christian University choirs.

Most recently, Kristen received a Special Mention Recognition Award from the Medici International Music Competition. She was also a District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions for their Tulsa District. She also received a Special Mention Recognition Award in the online 2021 Medici International Music Competition. In February 2020, Ms. Gillis was the First Place Winner of Texas Tech University’s Concerto Competition (Vocal Divsion). Previously, she was a finalist in the NATS Texoma Region auditions in both 2018 and 2017. Ms. Gillis has also been a young artist with Red River Lyric Opera in Wichita Falls, TX and Taos Opera Institue in Taos, NM.

Ms. Gillis is a Texas native and currently resides in Philadelphia, PA. She received her B.M. in Vocal Performance from Abilene Christian University, under the tutelage of Dr. Julie Pruett and Dr. Rick Piersall. She was also a former young artist of the Susan Graham Studio and studied under Dr. Rebecca Hays at Texas Tech University.

You can find Kristen’s performance here.