Biography
Hailed as "a deep and powerful soprano of great solidity up to the top of the staff," who "sang Gioconda with great force and bite and a strong, even sound," Elisabeth Shoup is making a name for herself as an interpreter of the dramatic soprano repertoire.
During the summer of 2016 she made her debut as Strauss’s “Elektra” with Create Opera. Called “otherworldly” by Patrick James Clement of Parterre Box, who also lauded her as “tall, beautifully androgynous, and an awkward performer; her singing had that distinct, piercing quality I’ve been searching for… the sheer force of her voice and presence.”
Earlier in 2016 she sang the role of Deianera in the North American Premeiere of Panagiotis Karousos’s “The Olympic Flame”. The performance was celebrated by the composer as “magical, she has the majestic stage presence and vocal powers that are needed for this tragic character.”
Elisabeth was featured as the title role Dell'Arte Opera Ensemble's 2012 Carmen. Her performance was lauded by Meche Kroop, saying, “Carmen herself, finely sung by Elisabeth Shoup, appeared as a sexily androgynous biker chick; by dint of acting skill, she overcame her naturally soft and vulnerable features to adopt a coolly rebellious and mostly indifferent aspect. “(Vocedimeche.net)
Other ​roles ​have included Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with the Martha Cardona Theater​, la Ciesca and Zita in Gianni Schicchi with Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance and the Hudson Opera Theater respectively​. She also appeared as ​Singer 3 in Conrad Susa's Transformations with the Oberlin Opera Theater and made her Carnegie Hall debut singing Rosette in Manon.
Elisabeth began her vocal education at Juilliard Pre-College under the tutelage of Lorraine Nubar. She completed the prestigious Double Degree program at Oberlin, earning a BA in Theater from the College and a BM in Vocal Performance from the Conservatory, where she was honored to perform the World Premiers of Jacob Gottlieb's Yevtushenko Songs and Aaron Helgeson's The Crane Wife.