Artist Bio

Canadian lyric soprano Julia Johnstone, praised for her “strong and rich” voice and “fine dramatic sense,” is based in New York City. In 2026 she sang Norn I and Courtier I in the world premiere of Marco Catella’s Prince Cnut with Ex Corde and the NYC Orchestra Project, and returned to Ex Corde as soprano soloist in the premiere of Catella’s To Night. This November she sings La Cugina in Madama Butterfly with Regina Opera Company, and in fall 2027 she sings Rosina in concert excerpts from Il barbiere di Siviglia at Snug Harbor Cultural Center.

Her other roles include Despina (Così fan tutte) with Utah Valley Operafest, Mrs. Pásková (The Cunning Little Vixen) at Manhattan School of Music under Kirk Severtson, and Madama Cortese (Il viaggio a Reims) at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts under David Agler. In Europe she sang Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte) at the Krušnohorské divadlo in the Czech Republic with the North Czech Philharmonic under Norbert Baxa. She also sang Frasquita in concert excerpts from Carmen with UBC Opera and the Vancouver Opera Orchestra at Bard on the Beach under Leslie Dala, covered Violetta in La traviata at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, and appeared in the Canadian premiere of Weinberg’s The Passenger.

On the concert stage, she has been a featured soloist at OPERA America’s Scorca Hall and has sung at Carnegie Hall with the Cecilia Chorus of New York in works including Bernstein’s Mass and Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem. In December 2026 she returns to Carnegie Hall with Essential Voices USA and The New York Pops.

Originally from Coquitlam, British Columbia, Julia holds a Master of Music from Manhattan School of Music and degrees in opera performance from the University of British Columbia. She is also a voice teacher, serves as soprano section leader at the Church of St. Barnabas, and has worked as an assistant director and stage manager.

“I was immediately struck by the beauty of Ms. Johnstone’s voice, which is strong in all registers.” — New York Concert Review

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