Mexican-American soprano Catherine Thornsley is a two-time National Semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. In Glimmerglass Opera’s 2024 season, Catherine made her principal role debut as the Queen in the world premiere of Jen Ibsen’s youth opera Rumpelstiltskin and the Unlovable Children, covered Nedda in Pagliacci, and participated in the workshop for Derek Bermel’s The House on Mango Street. In the previous season, she covered Mimì in La Bohème. Catherine is thrilled to return to the Glimmerglass Festival for a third year and is honored to debut as Cathy Queen of Cats in the world premiere of The House on Mango Street, a work that resonates with her passion for heritage, identity, and the empowerment of underrepresented communities.

Currently based in Vancouver, Catherine is an Artist-in-Residence with Nebula Performances, where she performs regularly and collaborates with fellow musicians to create impactful programming. Passionate about diversifying the classical music landscape, she curates projects that highlight underrepresented composers. This year, Catherine worked with Vancouver’s Opera Lirica to present a program honoring her Mexican heritage by featuring Mexican composers. She is currently curating a program for International Women’s Month that showcases music and poetry by women from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. These projects reflect her dedication to amplifying overlooked voices in classical music.

Catherine earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University under the guidance of Dr. Judith Cloud, followed by a Master’s in Opera Performance at the University of British Columbia under Nancy Hermiston. With UBC opera, she has performed notable roles such as Marta in the Canadian premiere of Weinberg’s Pasażerka, Madame Cortese in Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims, Contessa Almaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, and the title role in Dvořák’s Rusalka.

Catherine is committed to making classical music more accessible, frequently collaborating with local opera companies and musicians to engage diverse audiences. Her deep connection to music’s transformative power inspires her to pursue artistic excellence and share that inspiration with others. Catherine draws inspiration from the resilience of everyday people and the way music provides emotional and creative release. When not performing, she enjoys teaching breathing and singing techniques, helping others discover the joy and freedom she experiences through music.