Kimberly Gratland James

With a tone described as “rich” and “resonant” and performances noted for their vocal strength, nuance, musicality, and convincing dramatic portrayals, dramatic mezzo-soprano Kimberly Gratland James enjoys an active performance career in symphonic and operatic venues. Recent and upcoming concert performances include Handel’s Judas Maccabeus, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and Lieder eines fahrenden gesellen, songs with chamber orchestra by Ethyl Smyth, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

Ms. James is equally at home on the operatic stage, most recently performing the lead role of Cecelia in the comic opera Behold the Man with Opera Las Vegas. OperaWire called James the “perfect match” for the character: “…from her very first note and through her last, one might say she channeled the voice of Cecilia.” She also sang the role of Herodias in Rimrock Opera’s production of Salome. Additional recent operatic credits include Gertrude Stein in Ricky Ian Gordon’s powerful opera 27, Madame de Croissy in Dialogues des Carmélites, and Mary in Der fliegende Holländer.

Ms. James has performed with Chautauqua Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, New Orleans Opera, Opera Las Vegas, Montana Lyric Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, and other companies across North America. She performed in both the international and university premieres of Little Women as Alcott’s feisty character, Jo, and has since performed several West Coast premieres of new works. She made her Lincoln Center debut in John Adams’ Grand Pianola Music with John Adams conducting the London Sinfonietta, previously performing the piece with the New World Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Ms. James holds advanced music degrees from Rice University and Indiana University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University.