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Biography

Jessica Harika is a Lebanese-American stage director, mezzo-soprano and producer. A fierce advocate for opera鈥檚 continued growth to reach new audiences, she has worked on productions ranging from the traditional to the experimental. She has a specific interest in modern updates and adaptations of tried-and-true repertoire from the operatic canon.

She was most recently co-director of opera at Virginia Commonwealth University, and assistant director of the Janiec Opera Company at Brevard Music Center. She previously served as associate artistic director of Playthings Theatre Company (NYC), creating a safe space for queer theater makers, as well as the resident stage director for City Lyric Opera (NYC). She continues her work as artistic + co-executive director of River City Opera, a company she co-founded in 2019 in her hometown of Richmond, VA. Her work has also been seen with dell鈥橝rte Opera Ensemble, Capitol Opera Richmond, The Manhattan School of Music, Shreveport Opera, as well as producing comedy and cabaret shows in NYC at The Pit and The Duplex Cabaret Theater.
 
Dr. Harika has been described as 鈥渁 riveting and expressive performer鈥� and 鈥渢ruly a delight to see and hear.鈥� This season she will finish recording her debut album with pianist Rhys Burgess, exploring the recently published m茅lodies of Jacques Leguerney. She has sung with Washington Concert Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Heartbeat Opera, dell鈥橝rte Opera Ensemble, Natchez Festival of Music, Opera Theatre St. Louis, Shreveport Opera, Opera Maine, and The Janiec Opera Company. Jessica has also appeared in concert with VCU Symphony, Opera in the Heights, The Brevard Music Festival Orchestra and The NEC Philharmonia. She has been seen in Masterclass with Marilyn Horne, Stephanie Blythe and Jane Eaglen.

She holds degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University, The New England Conservatory of Music and University of Maryland at College Park.