American Opera Soprano
Emily Pulley is now in her fourth decade of appearing with opera companies and orchestras across the country and around the world. A national winner of the Met auditions in 1993, she debuted with the company the following season and is credited with nearly 200 performances there, with roles ranging from Marguerite in Faust to Gerhilde in Die Walküre to Valencienne in The Merry Widow.
Long established in both classical and contemporary soprano repertoire, including multiple world premieres, Emily is enjoying a successful exploration of mezzo soprano and musical theatre roles, including the title role in Carmen, Mrs. de Rocher in Dead Man Walking, and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd. She made her professional directorial debut with La bohème at Opera Ithaca in 2019 and has worked steadily in that capacity ever since, her most recent engagement being both stage director and Little Buttercup for Nashville Opera’s H.M.S. Pinafore last month.
Emily is a summa cum laude graduate of West Texas A&M University and was selected as a Distinguished Alumna in 2014, then spent the following year there as an Artist in Residence, teaching voice and directing the Opera Workshop program. She also received a Presidential Citation from the University of North Texas, where she had earned her master’s degree. In addition to teaching privately for over 35 years, Emily has taught master classes and vocal intensives throughout the US and in France and has served as an adjudicator for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition since 2010.