About Me
Originally from Utah, McKenna Brunson is a Philadelphia-based mezzo soprano studying with Dr. Kathryn Leemhuis. She recently graduated with her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University in 2024. In Temple Opera’s 2023-2024 season, McKenna portrayed both title characters in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, and Handel’s Ariodante. She made her Temple Opera Theater debut in the 2022-2023 season in Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel performing as the Sandman and covering Hänsel. McKenna was able to perform excerpts as Hänsel for an educational outreach program in Philadelphia. Earlier that season, McKenna covered the role of Ruth in Nico Muhly's Dark Sisters with Temple Opera Theater.
Other recent performances include Temple Opera Workshop's Scenes Program singing excerpts of Adalgisa (Norma), Baba the Turk (The Rake’s Progress), and Taller Sister (Proving Up). McKenna performed as Amy (Company) and Chamberlain (The Three Feathers) at Opera Steamboat, Mrs. Herring (Albert Herring), and Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas) at The University of New Mexico.
On the concert stage, McKenna gave her Master of Music Degree recital in 2024, and her Bachelor of Music Degree Recital in 2022. She has performed operatic, musical theater, and jazz repertoire for donor and community outreach events at Utah State University, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, the University of New Mexico, Opera Steamboat and Temple University.
On the competition stage, McKenna placed 2nd Place in the Rio Grande NATS Upper Classical Treble Voice and 3rd place in the Rio Grande NATS Upper Classical Musical Theatre Treble Voice in 2021. In the same year, she was awarded the 1st Place Bass Excellence Award in the New Mexico Vocal Artistry Art Song Competition in the Young Artist Division for her performance of Dvořák and Bolcom art song.
McKenna is a proud alumna of the Opera Steamboat Opera Artist Institute and the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. McKenna graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of New Mexico in 2022.
Upcoming Engagements
previous Engagements
Roles
Ariodante
Lucretia
Hänsel (cover)
Sandman
Ruth (cover)
Amy
Chamberlain
Mrs Herring
Sorceress
*Third Lady
Mustardseed
Hermia (cover)
Witch (cover)
Temple Opera Theater
Temple Opera Theater
Temple Opera Theater
Temple Opera Theater
Temple Opera Theater
Opera Steamboat
Opera Steamboat
University of New Mexico Opera Theater
University of New Mexico Opera Theater
Utah State University Opera
Hawaii Performing Arts Festival
Hawaii Performing Arts Festival
Utah State University Opera Theater
Ariodante
The Rape of Lucretia
Hänsel und Gretel
Hänsel und Gretel
Dark Sisters
Company
The Three Feathers
Albert Herring
Dido and Aeneas
Die Zauberflöte
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Hansel and Gretel
2024
2023
2023
2023
2022
2022
2022
2022
2021
2020
2019
2019
2019
*Cancellation due to COVID-19
Scenes, Partial Roles
Adalgisa
Taller Sister
Baba
Sesto
Mezzo
Norma
Proving Up
The Rake’s Progress
Giulio Cesare
Mein Name Ist Urlappi
Temple Opera Theater
Temple Opera Theater
Temple Opera Theater
Opera Steamboat Opera Artist Institute
University of New Mexico Opera Theater
2023
2023
2023
2022
2021
Media
“Stranger Here Myself”
One Touch of Venus
Kurt Weill
“Dopo notte”
Ariodante
G. F. Handel
“Give Him This Orchid”
The Rape of Lucretia
Benjamin Britten
“Che farò senza Euridice”
Orfeo ed Euridice
C. W. Gluck
production photos
Ariodante
Temple Opera Theater 2024 | Photo Credit: Joe Labolito
The Rape of Lucretia
Temple Opera Theater 2023 | Photo Credit: Joe Labolito, Mark Garvin | Video: Daniel Laverriere
Sandmann | Hänsel und Gretel | Temple Opera Theater 2023
Photo Credit: Joe Labolito, Temple University
Taller Daughter - Proving Up | Adalgisa - Norma | Baba the Turk - The Rake's Progress
Temple Opera Workshop Scenes Program 2023 | Photo Credit: Mark Garvin
headshots
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