Aryssa Leigh Burrs, mezzo-soprano, originally hails from the Philadelphia area and is thrilled to be a Resident Artist with Opera Columbus-Capitol University this year. Ms. Burrs recently completed a Master of Music in Voice and Opera degree from Northwestern University, studying under Nancy Gustafson and Sunny Joy Langton. In the Summer 2019 season, Ms. Burrs performed with the Grant Park Music Festival Chorus and appeared as Woman in Sleeve’s in Elvis Costello’s Juliet Letters with UrbanArias. Ms. Burrs’ additional role credits include Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Captain (Dog Days), Ursule (Béatrice et Bénédict), Baba the Turk (The Rake’s Progress) with NU Opera Theatre, and Mame Dennis (Mame), Nireno (Giulio Cesare), and Third Spirit (Die Zauberflöte) as an emerging artist with Seagle Music Colony. Notable solo performances include Am I Born (David T. Little), Terra Nostra (Stacy Garrop), and the incredible experience as soloist with Thorgy and the Thorchestra with the Charlotte Symphony. Ms. Burrs is a 2017 Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Music Education graduate of The University of Maryland-College Park, where she appeared as Kate (Lippa’s The Wild Party). Postponed from Summer 2020 to Summer 2021 due to Covid-19, Ms. Burrs can be seen as a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Studio Artist with Central City Opera.