Sara Zerilli, from Millstone Township, New Jersey, is a senior vocal performance major at Manhattan School of Music studying with Mignon Dunn and Shirley Close. At only 21 years old, Sara recently received an Encouragement Award in the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont District Competition. Performance highlights include Cendrillon by Viardot (Armelinde) with MSM, Suor Angelica (La Principessa) with Operallora, L’incoronazione di Poppea (Fortuna/Famigliari) with MSM, L’incoronazione di Poppea (Ottavia) with Saluzzo Opera Academy, and Amahl and the Night Visitors (Ensemble) with Boheme Opera Company. She has performed numerous opera scenes including Carmen, La Cenerentola, Norma (Adalgisa), Le Nozze di Figaro (Marcellina), Hansel und Gretel (Mutter), Hamlet (Gertrude), Falstaff (Quickly), Dialogues des Carmélites (Mother Marie), Die Zauberflöte (Third Lady), and Idomeneo (Idamante). Sara will be attending the New England Conservatory for her graduate education in MaryAnn McCormick’s studio.