Emerald Lessley, soprano, began studying music and performing at a young age in northern California, where she discovered her love of the stage. She has been actively involved in many musical ensembles as well as performing opera and new music. Ms. Lessley has enjoyed roles such as Suor Angelica in Puccini's Suor Angelica, La Calisto in Cavalli's La Calisto, Semele in Handel’s Semele, Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Second Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Geraldine in Barber’s A Hand of Bridge, La Ciesca in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Pauline in Barab’s A Toy Shop, Estrella in Offenbach’s La Perichole, and recently Belisa in the U.S. premiere of Maderna’s opera Don Perlimplìn. She is an active performer and advocate of new music in Seattle, and she has enjoyed performing new and experimental music around the country, as well as premiering new works for composers.