Soprano Jodi Burns is recognized as an exciting new voice in opera. After viewing her debut as Ann Trulove with The Princeton Festival's "The Rake's Progress," Anthony Tommasini wrote in The New York Times of her “plush voice and rich expressivity.” And her “soprano soared” as Josephine in "H.M.S. Pinafore" with Piedmont Opera, according to The Winston-Salem Journal.
Burns' reflective, deliberate character interpretations and graceful presence lit up the stage during her study as a fellow at the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute at UNCSA. She holds a Master of Music from UNCSA and a B.M.E. from Ohio State University.
Prior to her professional debut with the Piedmont Opera, Burns appeared numerous times on the stage of the Stevens Center. Roles include Barbarina ("The Marriage of Figaro"), the Dew Fairy ("Hansel and Gretel"), and Ida ("Die Fledermaus") — all with conductor Jamie Allbritten. She performed with the Princeton Festival under conductor Richard Tangyuk as Ann Trulove ("The Rake's Progress") and Lauretta ("Gianni Schicchi"). With the Fletcher Institute she gave commanding performances as Maria ("Maria Stuarda"), Adina ("L'Elisir d'Amore"), Rose ("Street Scene") and Flaminia ("Haydn's Il Mondo della Luna"), again with Jamie Allbritten conducting.
Other appearances include Lauretta ("Gianni Schicchi") with Opera Theatre of the Rockies and concert performances with the North Carolina Symphony (Mozart, Exsultate Jubilate, Mass in C Minor, Martern Aller Arten) conducted by Grant Llewellyn; the Winston-Salem Youth Symphony (Poulenc Gloria, Vaughan Williams' Benedicite); and with the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra (Mahler, Symphony No. 2), conducted by John Mauceri. She also is the singer/songwriter in the band Judy Barnes, which performs throughout the state, having had features spots at Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh and Phuzz Phest in Winston-Salem.
Burns competed in the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions where she won at the district level, claimed first place in the Southeast Regional Competition, and sang in the semi-finals at the Metropolitan Opera House.