Biography

Katrina Van Maanen is a dynamic coloratura soprano based in Detroit, Michigan, known for her vivid stage presence and versatility across a wide range of repertoire. A frequent collaborator with Opera MODO, she has appeared in over a dozen innovative, site-specific productions throughout Michigan. Her favorite roles include Norina in a new translation of Don Pasquale, Cinderella in Into the Woods, the title role in Les mamelles de Tirésias, Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring, Lucy in The Telephone, Musetta in La bohème, Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.

On the concert stage, Ms. Van Maanen recently performed Caroline Shaw’s Is A Rose with the Oakland University Wind Ensemble and was featured in the world premiere of Shawn Okpebholo’s Three Psalmic Meditations alongside DSO principal trombonist Kenneth Thompkins. This premiere is featured on the album Compelling Portraits, released by Navona Records. She has appeared as a soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Institute of Arts, Traverse City Wine & Opera Festival, Community Chorus of Detroit, the Bach Ensemble in Naples (FL), and more.

Ms. Van Maanen earned her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Houston, where she was a recipient of the prestigious Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts Fellowship. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Western Michigan University, graduating summa cum laude.

In addition to performing, Katrina is an applied voice instructor at Oakland University, and runs a private voice studio in Berkeley, Van Maanen Studios. She currently serves on the music ministry at Christ Church Detroit, and has experience working in the commercial film industry in metro Detroit. For more information about lessons, visit the Lessons page.