The Opera Academy of California

Erie Mills, renowned music and diction coach, will join Opera Academy of California for a special Master Class in which she will work one on one with students of the Academy. In a vocal career of over twenty-five years, Erie Mills has received critical and popular acclaim throughout the world, dazzling audiences with her sparkling coloratura voice, captivating personality, and vivid portrayals of operatic roles. She has performed in the world’s major opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Vienna Staatsoper, English National Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, New York City Opera and many others. In 1998, Erie Mills joined the music faculty of San José State University, devoting herself to the education and training of young singers. She spent ten years in academia, retiring from SJSU in 2008 as a full Professor of Music. She continues to maintain a private studio devoted to the vocal training of young professionals. Since 2003, Ms. Mills has served as the Principal English Diction Coach for Opera Theatre of St. Louis and master teacher for the Gerdine Young Artist program. She has also worked as English Diction Coach on the staffs of the Metropolitan Opera and Santa Fe Opera. She has taught master classes throughout the country and adjudicates regularly for the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions and for the National Association of Teachers of Singing. From 2004 – 2010, she served on the Opera America Board of Directors, the first singer ever named to the board.