A B O U T

Mexican-American soprano Catherine Thornsley is a two-time National Semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She recently completed her second summer at the Glimmerglass Festival. For the 2024 season, she made her principal role debut as the Queen in the world premiere of Jen Ibsen’s Rumpelstiltskin and the Unlovable Children, covered the role of Nedda in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci and participated in the workshop for the world premiere of Derek Bermel’s The House on Mango Street. In the previous season at Glimmerglass, she covered the role of Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème.

Catherine earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University under the guidance of Dr. Judith Cloud. Her pursuit of musical excellence continued at the University of British Columbia, where she secured a Master's in Opera Performance.

As a member of UBC Opera, Catherine showcased her talent in notable roles like Madame Cortese in Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims and Contessa Almaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Her journey at the University of British Columbia also led her to perform the role of Marta in the Canadian premiere of Weinberg’s Pasażerka, and star as the title role in Antonín Dvořák’s opera Rusalka. After completing her master’s, Catherine joined Brott Opera to take on the role of Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte.

Currently based in Vancouver, Catherine dedicates herself to sharing her passion for classical music and opera with the community, frequently collaborating with local opera companies and musicians focused on making music more accessible. When not performing, Catherine finds fulfillment in teaching breathing and singing techniques. She is currently under the mentorship of Nancy Hermiston.