Holly Thomas is a New York City–based soprano specializing in light and lyric coloratura repertoire. Her work spans standard and seldom-performed repertoire, with a particular love for art song and new music. Since her move to New York in May, she has been featured as Helen Rosen/ensemble in a new opera workshop of Paul Robeson by Scott Davenport Richards with Peak Performances and in recital setting with the Art Song Preservation Society of New York. She also sings sacred choral repertoire regularly at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church.
This January 2026, Holly will appear as a finalist in the Carolyn Bailey Argento Competition at the National Opera Association in Boston, present a finalist audition recital with the Brooklyn Art Song Society of New York, and perform in ensemble with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. She will perform in recital with Szabo Chamber Music Society this February and as Liesgen in Bach’s Coffee Cantata in March.
In the 2024- 2025 season at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, she performed Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the baton of William Langley and direction of Robin Guarino, as well as Serpetta in La Finta Giardiniera conducted by Gary Wedow and directed by Brian Robertson. She was a Resident Young Artist with Ohio Light Opera in their rotating repertory summer season, performing as Casilda in The Gondoliers, Liesl in The Sound of Music, and Chrysaea in The Arcadians.
In recital, she performed selections of Schoenberg song with Concert Nova, and sang selections from Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch in recital with collaborative pianist, Calvin Stovall. Her recital Unmasking Commedia dell’arte was featured by Cincinnati Song Initiative as part of their Fellowship of Song: Creative Recital Programming presented by soprano Laura Strickling.
Holly also debuted two new works: Exsultate Jubilate by Catherine Fields in concert and selections from Robin Hood, a new operetta by Steve Hinnenkamp, in which she portrayed Marian for the premiere recording. In addition, Holly served as a soprano soloist for several churches across Cincinnati, notably singing the Allegri Miserere solo for three consecutive years and performing for the Installation Mass of the new Archbishop at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains.
“Crystalline, ringing voice” -Cincinnati Concert Review
“Crystalline, ringing voice” -Cincinnati Concert Review
From Music City—Nashville, Tennessee—Holly began her artistic journey at age six, singing with Musical Motions, a Nashville-based show choir, while also studying classical violin at the Blair School of Music and participating in dance and choir at Thurman Francis Arts Academy. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance with a minor in Violin Performance from the University of Memphis, studying voice with Kyle Ferrill and Paulina Villarreal and violin with Marvin Arendt.
Holly completed her Master of Music in Opera at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the mentorship of Amy Johnson and completed one year of the Artist Diploma program at CCM before relocating to New York City. In July 2023, she earned her Level I certification in YogaVoice®.
