Erin Wagner

American mezzo-soprano Erin Wagner is passionate about vocal music that represents modern and diverse perspectives. As the winner of the 2021 Naumburg Foundation Vocal Award, she made her Carnegie Hall recital debut in a program entitled “But how things change,” featuring works by Edie Hill, Fauré, Ravel, Errollyn Wallen, Shawn Chang, and Mahler. Alongside the Naumburg Foundation, Erin commissioned Errollyn Wallen to compose a cycle for her entitled JOY, which premiered in 2023.

Erin is an alum of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, where she debuted as Jack in Dame Ethyl Smyth’s “The Wreckers” and performed in “Le Nozze di Figaro” (Barbarina) and “Salome” (Page). She was named a Winner of the 2022 YCA Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, focusing on her work as a recitalist, chamber musician, concert artist, and in community outreach, making debuts at The Kaufman Center and The Kennedy Center. During the 2022 Merola Opera Program, Erin won the Schwabacher Recital Debut Auditions with Shawn Chang. They returned to San Francisco Opera for a recital entitled “Everything Must Change.” Erin returned to Aspen Music Festival as a Renée Fleming Artist in 2023 to portray Idamante in “Idomeneo” with Robert Spano and perform Schubert under Nicholas McGegan.

This past summer, Erin made her Wolftrap debut as Dorabella in “Così Fan Tutte.” In the 2024-2025 season, she will make her Metropolitan Opera debut in Strauss’ “Die Frau ohne Schatten”, present a new work by David Ludwig on the Brooklyn Arts Song Series, and participate in the New York Festival of Song at Merkin Hall.  She will also perform with the Brazos Valley Symphony and the Maryland Symphony, and be featured in the YCA Encore Series at the Morgan Library as well as the YCA Season Finale at  Zankel Hall.

Erin is committed to making art accessible to all. She commissioned Shawn Chang to compose “Marty’s Letter” using text from her father’s childhood, and partnered with David Clay Mettens for “The Sustaining Air,” set to text by Larry Eigner. Erin received her Master’s Degree from The Juilliard School, winning the Juilliard Vocal Arts Honors Recital with Shawn Chang in a program entitled “Life in Color.” She performed with Brian Zeger in Juilliard Songfest, sharing works by Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, and Mahler. Erin’s Bachelor Degree is from The Manhattan School of Music, where she performed in “Albert Herring” (Mrs. Herring).