Josephine Barstad
Bio
Josephine Barstad, soprano, is lauded for her clear and expressive voice. Her artistry has recently been displayed in The Miller’s Daughter as the title role in Rochester with Hometown Opera Company. Previously, she performed Rusalka with the LAH SOW workshop in Chicago and toured the title role in Rusalka: a Mermaid's Tale for young audiences all over Northern Minnesota. Other engagements include Sally in Die Fledermaus with Lyric Opera of the North, Santuzza in Spotlight on Opera at Tulsa Opera’s production of Cavalleria rusticana, and Belinda in Badlands Opera Project’s Dido and Aeneas. In concert, she has portrayed Mary Magdalene in Rob Gardner's oratorio Lamb of God with the Minnesota Saints Chorale and Orchestra. Coming up, she will rejoin Lyric Opera of the North’s Little LOON tour as Pamina in The Magic Flute.
With a flexible voice and sensibilities in a variety of styles, her other prior roles include Damon in Acis and Galatea and La Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro at Wichita State University, as well as the title role of Suor Angelica at both WSU and Spotlight on Opera.
Her recent awards include taking first place in St. Croix Valley Opera's Opera on the River Competition, being a finalist for the Naftzger Young Artist Auditions and Awards, and winner of the Minnesota NATS competition. She was a Shera Barton Memorial Fellowship recipient and Graduate Teaching Assistant at WSU. In 2022, she graduated from University of Minnesota Duluth with a bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance and in 2024 completed her Master of Music in Opera Performance at Wichita State University where she studied with Dr. Cristina Castaldi.
When not in rehearsal, Josephine can be found crocheting and listening to audiobooks at home with her partner Andy and four cats.