Originally from Atlanta, GA, Mezzo Soprano Lara Wilson has recently moved to Charleston, SC and founded the Charleston Chamber Opera. This season she performed the role of La Principessa in Suor Angelica in the company’s second appearance as a part of Piccolo Spoleto’s Spotlight Concert Series. In the 2008 Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Lara sang the role of Julia Child in Bon Appétit as well as the Wife in The Women.Also, this past Christmas in Charleston, Lara sang the role of the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. In addition, Lara débuted with Harrisburg Opera in the role of Suzuki in their production of Madama Butterfly. She returned to Harrisburg the following season to perform Maddalena in Rigoletto. Prior to this, Lara performed Public Opinion in Orpheus in the Underworld with Ridge Light Opera, NJ. In addition, she toured with The Tulsa Opera covering Rosina in The Barber of Seville and presenting Mahler and Britten in Recital as an Artist in Residence. Ms. Wilson made her New York debut with the New York Chamber Opera performing the role of Polinesso in Ariodante. Additional roles include the Sand Man in Hansel and Gretel with the Des Moines Metro Opera, Lucretia in The Rape of Lucretia with New York Chamber Opera, Dryade in Ariadne auf Naxos with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble, and Dodo in the Met version of The Merry Widow as well as La Badessa in Suor Angelica with the Natchez Opera Festival. Equally versatile in operetta, Lara made her off-Broadway debut with the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players as Lady Blanche in Princess Ida, followed by a second appearance with the company as Lady Sangazure in the critically acclaimed production of The Sorcerer. This was soon followed by an appearance with Opera Northeast performing Katisha in The Mikado. Later that year she reprised the role of Katisha at the Theater of Monmouth, ME, followed by Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance and the Fairy Queen in Iolanthe. Ms. Wilson’s apprenticeships include Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis where she covered Bianca in The Rape of Lucretia. Concert credits consist of Mozart’s Requiem performed with the New Bedford Symphony and the Pergolesi Magnificat in Charleston, SC. Other regional performances include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Durufle’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah. Competitions include regional winner in the MacAllister Award Competition, Honorable Mention in the NSAL Competition of North Florida and the Encouragement Award from the Birmingham Opera Competition. She holds Masters and Bachelors degrees from Indiana University and Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music respectively.