Meet the Artists

Erin Ridge is an American multidisciplinary artist making a name for herself in the opera industry as both a stage director and a lyric soprano. Combining versatile artistry with a probing intellect and commanding stage presence, Ridge delivers compellingly honest performances both on and off the stage. In keeping with her vision to be the “Barbara Hannigan” of singing & directing, Ridge finds herself at home across a variety of genres with a particular proclivity towards bringing modern 20th & 21st century stories to life. Described as having an “unflappable spirit”, Ridge’s approach to artistic creation is fastidious in her attention to detail and audacious in her commitment to bold embodiment. 

This fall, Ridge is thrilled to be named a semi-finalist in the Camille Coloratura Vocal Competition, the Marcella Sembrich International Vocal Competition, and the American International Czech & Slovak Voice Competition. As an active AGMA chorister, Ridge is also looking forward to re-joining the Washington National Opera in their upcoming production of Macbeth. Ridge will be joining the Trinity Chamber Orchestra in April as the soloist for Mahler’s 4th Symphony.

Her love of art song has led to two recitals so far this year: The Last Rose of Summer - presented at the Cardella Salon Series, and Into the Silent Land -  a one woman show about the journey of meditation produced during her residency with The Apiary, and she is looking forward to presenting a mini-recital at the Arts Club of Washington later this fall featuring spanish art songs and spanish-inspired duets.

In the 23/24 season, Ridge made her solo debut with the Washington Concert Opera as Cleone in Ermione as well as several university stage directing debuts. She returned to her alma mater Vanderbilt University to direct the first ever Spanish production of children’s opera Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena and then joined the Peabody Institute, Johns Hopkins University to direct their graduate production of Svadba, a Serbian chamber opera. She also joined the Beth Morrison Projects & Vision Into Arts for their DC workshop of new opera Sensorium Ex. Ridge has been a semi-finalist in national competitions including the Gerda Lissner and the Giulio Gari, as well as a finalist in the Orpheus and Partners for the Arts.