With undeniable presence, Holly Thomas is remarked to have a “crystalline, ringing voice” (Cincinnati Concert Review) and be a “memorable pleasure” (Christopher Hoile, Stage Door Review). This March, Holly performed as Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the baton of William Langley and the direction of Robin Guarino at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in which Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati Business Courier, responded “Thomas navigated her florid music brightly, punctuating her lines with icy high notes”.

Other recent highlights include her participation in a studio recording of selections from a new operetta composition, Robin Hood, written by Steve Hinnenkamp, masterclasses with Daniel Okulitch and Martin Katz, performances at donor events with the CCM opera department, a featured performance of Portuguese sacred music—reviving works not sung in over 200 years—at the Cincinnati Early Music Festival, and a recital feature of Lieder from Hugo Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch.

In 2024, Holly’s season was marked by impressive versatility. She performed the role of Serpetta in Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera at CCM, and Cabaret Songs of Schoenberg: Schenk mir deinen goldenen Kamm Der Genügsame Liebhaber, Gigerlette with Concert Nova. As a Resident Young Artist with Ohio Light Opera, she gave over 20 performances as Casilda in The Gondoliers, Liesl in The Sound of Music, and Chrysaea in The Arcadians. Holly also premiered a new song cycle, Exsultate Jubilate by Catherine Fields and presented the innovative recital Unmasking Commedia dell’Arte, blending art song with theatrical storytelling, which earned her recognition by Cincinnati Song Initiative’s Fellowship of the Song.

Her 2023 season included her portrayal of Lucia in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia with CCM, a debut with Queen City Opera in a staged production of Bach’s Coffee Cantata, and her first performance of Handel’s Messiah at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Kenwood.

Earlier highlights (2021/22) include singing Sister St. Charles in Dialogues des Carmélites at CCM, Zerlina in a scenes program, and Rose in Ruddigore at the University of Memphis. She also covered the role of Lisa in Bellini’s La Sonnambula as a Young Artist with Teatro Nuovo and portrayed Celia in Lucio Silla by Mozart with Chicago Summer Opera.

Holly is passionate about premiering new music, curating innovative recital programs, and transforming into vivid operatic characters. Her 15 years of formal violin training have enriched her musical artistry, allowing her to approach new works with exceptional precision and musicality.

Holly earned her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied under Amy Johnson. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in Violin Performance from the University of Memphis, where she trained with Kyle Ferrill, Paulina Villarreal (voice), and Marcin Arendt (violin).

In addition to her musical training, Holly earned her YogaVoice® certification in 2023. She danced at after school programs growing up, trained for two years at the Nashville Ballet School and studied Lester Horton technique for one semester at the University of Memphis. Holly took Movement courses with Susan Moser and Improvisation class with Tracy Connor at CCM—further broadening her movement skills and artistic expression.