Following her "hauntingly drawn and vocally fulfilled" European debut as Jano in Staatsoper Stuttgart's revival of Jenůfa, Filipino-American soprano Emilie Kealani returns to The Glimmerglass Festival to sing the title role in Cavalli's La Calisto. Featured in the September 2023 issue of OPERA NEWS' Soundbites Column, she also received praise from them during her first GGF season for "delivering Musetta's music with absolute accuracy, even in moments of high vivacity." Pursuing her Masters degree at The Curtis Institute of Music, Emilie has portrayed the roles of Adina (L’elisir d’amore), Dalinda (Ariodante) and Miss Jessel (The Turn of the Screw).

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Emilie joined Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Program for the 2022 season performing in mainstage productions of Carmen, Falstaff and the world premiere of M.Butterfly.  Described as “charmingly sung”, she was showcased in the scenes program as Sophie in the Finale of Der Rosenkavalier and Zerlina in the Act II Sextet of Don Giovanni.

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Emilie Kealani Suarez is a proud Filipina who aims to showcase underrepresented classical music of the Filipino culture.  She often programs Kundimans, Tagalog love songs, into her recitals in hopes of sharing this exquisite music with a wider audience. For her upcoming Masters project, Emilie will be curating a multi-disciplinary event to bring together the AAPI and BIPOC community this fall.  Featuring voice, dance, instrumental, fashion, media, visual arts, culinary arts and original compositions, she believes that this will be a necessary and important platform to showcase our creative minds and celebrate our important stories.

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Born and raised in San Francisco, California, Emilie grew up performing with San Francisco Arts Education Project and Bay Area Vocal Academy.  After earning her high school diploma and Presidential Education Scholar Award at the age of 16, she then obtained her Bachelor of Music degree at The Manhattan School of Music where she sang scenes as Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea) and Servilia (La clemenza di Tito).

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Emilie has gained recognition from notable organizations, receiving the inaugural Stephen de Maio Memorial Award from The Gerda Lissner Foundation, and holds titles with Opera Mississippi's John Alexander National Vocal Competition, The National Shirley Rabb Winston Competition, Schmidt Undergraduate Awards, Beach Blanket Babylon and National YoungArts Foundation.

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