Julia Fertel is an expressive and versatile artist based in Columbia, South Carolina strives to tell ​captivating yet vulnerable stories in both the Opera and Musical Theatre repertoire. Ms Fertel is an ​incoming member of the 2024/25 Resident Artist Company at Opera Carolina.

Recent engagements include her chorus debut with Opera Carolina in Turandot. Fertel spent the ​summer of 2022 and 2023 at the Seagle Festival in Schroon Lake, New York. During her time at the ​festival, she performed notable roles from both the Opera and Musical Theatre canon including Golde in​ Fiddler on the Roof, Maria Luisa in With Blood, With Ink, Suor Zelatrice in Suor Angelica, and Mama Bear ​in The Three Bears. Fertel spent the summer of 2021 performing Madame de la Haltière in Cendrillon​ with Miami Classical Music Festival.

Ms. Fertel received her M.M in Opera Performance from the University of South Carolina where she ​performed as Der Trommler in Der Kaiser von Atlantis, Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible, and Mrs. Grose in​ The Turn of the Screw. Fertel earned her B.M. in Vocal Performance at the University of Michigan.

Ms. Fertel is passionate about exposing the next generation of opera goers to this exciting art form. ​During the summer of 2024, Fertel participated in the Inaugural Children’s Opera Festival with FBN ​Productions in Columbia, South Carolina during which she toured productions of The Red Songbird​ (world premiere) and The Three Little Pigs to communities throughout the Midlands. She also performed​ The Three Bears and The Ugly Duckling to schools throughout the North Country while performing with​ The Seagle Festival in upstate New York.

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Opera and Social Justice

I am devoted to developing a deeper understanding for the intersections between Opera and Social Justice. I walked into ​my graduate studies with a theory that storytelling can inspire empathy in an audience. I feel that it is my purpose in this ​field to tell stories that hold a mirror to society and continue to push for progress. It has been an honor to come of age in ​a time when new works are being premiered that give a voice to historical narratives, voices that have been lost or ​ignored for so log. I wish to be a part of this change in societies’s social consciousness!

Due to my dedication to cross training, I am equally at home in the operatic canon and musical theatre repertoire. As a ​Jewish Mezzo, I am passionate about performing works in Hebrew and Yiddish; I care deeply about Jewish stories and ​seeing Judaism portrayed with care on all the world stages. As someone so dedicated to the storytelling elements of this ​art form, I feel that it is crucial that all voices are heard, especially those that are consistently overlooked throughout ​history. While earning my Masters, I was hired as a cantorial soloist at a synagogue in Columbia, South Carolina. Much of ​my position includes educating the congregation and youth about the importance of Jewish culture and liturgy through ​music.

In addition to my work as a performer and teaching artist, I developed a passion for performing children’s opera and ​promoting opera accessibility. If this art form is to thrive for years to come, it will be through inspiring audiences of all ​ages, focusing with special care to our young audiences. This means that opera MUST be accessible to all. It is through ​opera outreach projects that we can continue to make opera accessible to folks from all backgrounds. I am convinced ​that there are other young minds, much like mine, who will find that opera is the most effective medium to usher in a new ​era of transformation.

Contact Me!

Phone

248.514.5590

Email

juliafertel@gmail.com