Janet Hopkins,

Mezzo Soprano

Janet Hopkins, mezzo-soprano, professor at University of South Carolina School of Music, is a 16 year veteran soloist of the Metropolitan opera where she performed in Die Walküre, Der Rosenkavalier,Katya Kabanova, Die Frau ohne Schatten, Elektra, Jenufa, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, War and Peace, Les Mamelles de Tiresias, L'Enfant et les Sortileges, Doktor Faustus and The Makropulos Case as well as three tours with in Japan for Der Rosenkavalier, Die Walkure, and Rigoletto. Recent performances include Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana (Riverside Opera), Mezzo soloist in Verdi’s Requiem (The Kennedy Center, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, the Berkshires, South Carolina, New York and Prague), Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky in Michigan, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy) in Kentucky and Charleston, The Westminster Dog Show in NY, performing on the TV Pilot The Secret Life of Show Dogs in Philadelphia, recitals and Fund Raisers in California, mini-recital and masterclasses in Alabama (UAB), Mark Grant’s Red Berries (an original concert drama) in NYC.

Hopkins performed the Ruckert lieder with Las Vegas Symphony, the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors in California, soloist in Bach’s Mass in B Minor in three locations throughout Spain, De Falla’s El Amor Brujo with the SC Philharmonic, Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire in both Columbia and Charleston, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, Mahler’s Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen, Baba from Menotti’s The Medium, and Dr. Andrew Fowler’s Freedom in the 21st Century (premiere) in Myrtle Beach. She has appeared at Carnegie Hall and at the opening ceremonies of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. Janet’s recordings include The Ghosts of Versailles and Elektra DVDs along with 13 performances over the Texaco Broadcast “Live from the Met” series. In 2013 Ms. Hopkins performed "Sue" in Robert Bradshaw's recording of his new opera "Plastic". Solo recordings include Ulysses Kay: Works for Chamber Orchestra and Soprano, When I have Sung my Songs, and ARIA. ARIA was recorded at Capitol Records and accompanied a personally blended red wine through Tulip Hills winery. The wine/ CD set won acclaim from the New York Times and USA Today named it one of the top Holiday Gift items.

Ms. Hopkins is also founder and executive director of Opera-tunity Foundation for the Arts. Their 2012 event, "Week of Remembrance, a Celebration of Jewish Artists" earned her and the Foundation a Resolution from the House of Representatives and the Senate. She also received an award from the Cultural Council of South Carolina for the event. Opera-tunityFoundation.webs.com Ms. Hopkins is passionate about animals and animal welfare and is vice-president of Nawty Dawg Big Heart, LLC, a Philanthropic Foundation. She is also a long standing volunteer at Pawmetto Lifeline, a local no-kill shelter and has co-written a children's opera and coloring book/libretto, Ecco goes to the Opera. Ms. Hopkins holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, cum laude, and a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance, cum laude, from the State University of New York, Potsdam, NY.