Praised for her “confidence and beautiful vocal color” by the Post-Journal, soprano Chelsea Friedlander opened her 2022 season with Light Opera of New Jersey, performing the role of Cunégonde in Candide.

Friedlander recently celebrated one year of service with The United States Army Chorus, Pershing’s Own at Fort Myer, VA. Friedlander graduated Basic Combat Training in late September 2023 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant in December. As an Army soloist, Friedlander has performed for a variety of events: a televised spot on PBSHour, a variety of public and private concerts, singing at the White House, with notable guests including Vice President Kamala Harris, General George of the US Army, and Secretary of the US Army Wormuth. Chelsea continues to enjoy performing in concert outside of Pershing’s Own.

She joined The Oratorio Society of New Jersey in 2021 and 2022 as a soloist for performances of Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Handel’s Messiah. She also performed Bach’s Magnificat and Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Taghkanic Chorale in 2021.

Chelsea Friedlander began her 2019 season in a company debut with Winter Opera St. Louis, returning to the role of Mabel in Pirates of Penzance. Performing the same role with Ohio Light Opera, Cleveland Classical declared Friedlander “outstanding as Mabel, the shining star in this production. She sang with powerful yet controlled resonance and solid production that carried clearly to the back of the hall.” (Cleveland Classical).

In the spring of 2019 Ms. Friedlander also made her Nashville Opera debut as Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann. Music City Review raved, “Olympia’s role calls for a dramatic, coloratura voice that Friedlander so skillfully shows off…Friedlander offered a performance combining extraordinary agility, accurate intonation, and pinpoint staccatos.” Other recent debuts include performing as soprano soloist with Albany Pro Musica in Mozart’s “Great Mass” in C minor and the role of Betsy in Bucci’s Sweet Betsy from Pike with Opera on the James.

The title role of Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment with Light Opera of New Jersey proved “the perfect vehicle to provide a star turn for Friedlander,” according to New Jersey Footlights. Her Dayton Opera “debut was marvelous, as the ultimate ingenue, Blonde” in Abduction from the Seraglio said The Oakwood Register.  Opera News added, “she proved an accomplished comedian as well.”

While an Artist-in-Residence with Dayton Opera, Friedlander performed the role of Frasquita in Carmen and sang as a soloist in Bach’s Cantata #80 with the Dayton Philharmonic with “clarity, fluidity, strength and beauty” (Discover Classical).  She has performed the role of Cunégonde in Candide as an Emerging Professional Artist in Los Angeles with Angels Vocal Art, and played Euridice in Orfeo (Monteverdi/ Respighi) and Soprano 1 in Hydrogen Jukebox (Philip Glass) with Chautauqua Opera Company. In the role of Monica in Menotti’s The Medium with Pacific Opera Project, Operawire noted that Friedlander “sang with beauty of tone over her entire range. Her ‘Monica’s Waltz’ was a selection to be savored.”

Ms. Friedlander’s other career highlights have included performances with New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, Opera in the Ozarks, Saratoga Opera, Light Opera of New York, and Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance. A New Jersey native, Ms. Friedlander holds a M.M. from Manhattan School of Music and B.M. from the Cleveland Institute of Music.