​​ J e s s i c a S t r o n g
s o p r a n o
A B O U T
"A powerful, charismatic soprano whose voice commands attention."
- CLASSICAL VOICE AMERICA
Hailed as a “superb discovery” by Operà Magazine, Canadian soprano Jessica Strong has been praised for possessing “a powerful top, a seductive vibrato and assured coloratura” (Opera Canada).
Recent highlights saw Ms. Strong debut in her hometown with Manitoba Opera as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. She sang the soprano soloist in Handel's Messiah with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra , revisited the role of Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus with Saskatoon Opera, and starred as Marta in Weinberg's rarely performed Die Passagierin, with Oper Frankfurt. She is thrilled to be a 2021 grant recipient from both the Canada Council for the Arts, and FACTOR (The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recording).
Jessica is also a sought after voice and piano teacher, having taught in Canada, Germany, Ireland, and now the Netherlands. A former faculty member of the University of Limerick Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, she currently runs the Strong Juju Voice and Piano studio in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
During the 2017/18 season, she sang with Opera Vlaanderen as Amelia in Simon Boccanegra, and debuted four roles with Oper Frankfurt, including the title role in Barber's Vanessa, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Lina in Verdi’s rarely performed Stiffelio, and Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. She was a 2018 recipient of a Research and Development Grant form the Canada Council for the Arts, and a recipient of a 2016 Career Development Grant from the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation.
As a member of the Internationales Opernstudio of Oper Frankfurt, Ms. Strong had many successes. She made her company debut singing Amelia Grimaldi in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra and sang to rave reviews of her performance as the Prima Donna Rosa in Fioravanti’s Le Cantatrici Villane, where critics praised her soaring high notes, brilliant coloratura, dramatic artistry, and alluring stage presence. In addition, she made her Wagnerian debut as Woglinde in both Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung and Siegrune in Die Walküre, appeared as one of the Sirens in the world premiere of Rolf Riehm’s Sirenen – Bilder des Begehrens, as Virtù/Pallade in Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea, several small roles in Puccini’s Il Trittico, and Eleonora in Martinů’s Tränen des Messers.
Ms. Strong was very active in Frankfurt’s Oper für Kinder outreach program, which saw her perform in productions of Der Fliegende Holländer (Senta), Le Nozze di Figaro (Contessa), Hänsel und Gretel (Mother), and Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Konstanze). During her first year in the studio, she also returned to Canada to perform recitals in Winnipeg and Southern Manitoba, and made an exciting role debut as Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen with Calgary Opera.
In 2013/14, Ms. Strong made her Canadian stage debut with Calgary Opera singing Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri, where she was praised for her “powerful, charismatic soprano” in her “stand out” performance as Elvira. A graduate of their Emerging Artist Program, Jessica performed Annina in La Traviata (Violetta cover), the title role in Il Segreto di Susanna, and Ginevra in Handel’s Ariodante. Other roles include Alice Ford in Falstaff and Mimi in La Boheme with Calgary Opera (covers); Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Frasquita in Carmen, Cunegonde in Candide, and Clarice in Il Mondo della Luna at the University of Toronto; Anne Truelove in The Rake’s Progress and Violetta in La Traviata at the Music Academy of the West; Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus with Opera NUOVA; and Helena in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Aspen Music Festival (cover).
Ms. Strong has appeared in concert with the St. Lawrence String Quartet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, The Calgary Festival Chorus, The Aldeburgh Connection, The Musical Offering, Canzona, and at Carnegie Halls’ Zankel Hall as a participant in ‘The Song Continues’ with Marilyn Horne and Jessye Norman. Her repertoire includes Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Brahms’ Deutsches Requiem, Chausson’s Chanson perpétuelle, Fauré’s Requiem, Handel’s The Choice of Hercules and The Messiah, Mozart’s Exsultate jubilate, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Symphony No. 2 ‘Lobgesang’, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Strauss’ Vier letzte lieder.
Jessica obtained a Master of Music from the University of Toronto Opera Division, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Manitoba. She also holds an A.R.C.T. from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has received additional training from Calgary Opera (2011-13) the Toronto Summer Music Festival (2013), the Music Academy of the West (2012), the Aspen Music Festival (2011, 2010), St. Andrews by the Sea (2013, 2008) and Opera NUOVA (2008). Jessica currently studies voice with acclaimed soprano Nelly Miricioiu, and has also studied with Wendy Nielsen, Lorna MacDonald, Valdine Anderson, and Marilyn Horne.
Ms. Strong is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards. Most recently, she was named a 2016 grant recipient of the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation and FACTOR. In addition, she has won prizes from the National Music Festival (1st place), the WMC McLellan Competition (1st prize), the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (National Semi Finalist and 1st place Northwest Region), the Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition (Semi Finalist), the George London Foundation (Finalist), the Marilyn Horne Song Competition (Runner Up), the Houston Grand Opera McCollum Competition (Semi Finalist), the Canada Council for the Arts, the Vancouver Opera Guild, the Solti Foundation, and the Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation.
Jessica is a member of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (CAEA) and Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA).