Biography

A winner of the Metropolitan Opera Competition’s New York District, Jessica Grigg was a Finalist in the  National Opera Association Competition, a finalist in the New York City NATS competition and a winner of the Operafest NH! Competition.

Some recent career highlights include performing with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre world premiere of The Grant Wood Operas: Strokes of Genius in 2019 and joining maestro James Meader with DCINY at Carnegie Hall for a concert of Dan Forrest's Jubilate Deo.  She made her debut with Salt Marsh Opera in Gianni Schicchi and  with DCINY in Vivaldi's Gloria. Jessica toured the role of Isabella in Gotham Chamber Opera’s production of D. Catan’s, Rappaccini’s Daughter, returned to Teatro Grattacielo in Siberia, and was the alto soloist in Opera Naples’ semi-staged production of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. She has twice been alto soloist for National Chorale’s annual Messiah Christmas performances at Carnegie Hall.

In past seasons Jessica performed the role of Carmen with Julius Rudel and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in a program of French Opera. This followed her debut with Opera Illinois as Maddalena in their production of Rigoletto and her debut with Teatro Grattacielo as Anna in Alfano’s Risurezzione at Alice Tully Hall.  Jessica’s first Suzuki was with the Little Opera Company of New Jersey following a recital for the Middlebury Performing Arts Series.  She has appeared as Maddalena in Rigoletto with the Lyric Orchestra of New Jersey, New Jersey Verismo Opera and with Opera Theatre of Connecticut.  With Opera North, Stephen Fox conducted Jessica as Olga in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, as part of a Russian Romantics Concert Series and she performed the Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte and Edith in The Pirates of Penzance. She has also performed Count Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus with Opera Theatre of Connecticut and Dorabella in Anchorage Opera’s Così fan tutte. She has enjoyed performances with the Little Opera Theatre of New York, Cape Cod Opera as Carmen in a series of concerts, the title role in Orfeo with Five Words in a Line, and concerts with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra Concert Series in Boston and with Opera Providence in Rhode Island.   She also recorded Dag Gabrielsen’s opera All Three Acts of a Sad Play for New York City Opera’s VOX 2011 Festival.  Jessica was the mezzo soloist in Mozart’s C minor Mass with the Mohawk Choral Society and has performed the Mozart Requiem with the Washington Bach Consort under J. Reilly Lewis and with Camerata New York.   She was a guest artist in St. Louis’ “Sheldon Hall Gala” featuring Frederica von Stade.

As a performer interested in contemporary compositions, Jessica was the lead in Steven Paulus’ opera Summer in its New York City Premiere with the Center for Contemporary Opera and joined CCO again as Signora Angiolieri in Francis Thorne and J.D. McClatchy’s opera, Mario and the Magician.  Jessica performed with Five Words in a Line in a concert of music by composers Charles Fussell and Stefan Weisman in NYC’s Greenwich House Music Hall and, at the request of the composer, recorded Stephen Aprahamian’s new opera, The Fountain of Youth.  She was asked by composer Jorge Martin to record his song cycle “Of Fathers and Sons” and to premiere his song cycle “A Cuban in Vermont” at Boston’s Berklee College of Music.  Jessica was Dr. von Zahnd on Dag Gabrielsen’s  recording and film of his new opera The Physicists based on Dürrenmatt’s play by the same name.

Press

The New York Times
As Charity in Stephen Paulus’ Summer: “Jessica Grigg did a fine job of bringing to life Charity’s
variety of conflicts – everything from class insecurities because of her mountain origins to more
commonplace adolescent angst – while making her essentially likable. She also sang the role
with an attractive fluidity…”
Allan Kozinn

The Westsider
“Mezzo-soprano Jessica Grigg made an unforgettable impression as the wronged Charity – the
unique vibrancy of her voice and the naturalness of her truthful dramatics bespoke a major artist.”
Bill Zakariasen

The News Times
As Orlofsky and Maddalena with the Opera Theatre of Connecticut “Mezzo-soprano Jessica
Grigg was delightful as Prince Orlofsky in ‘Die Fledermaus’ and also excellent as Giovanna
and Maddalena in Rigoletto.”
Gale Bennett

Opera News
As one of the “superb cast of singers” in Gotham Chamber Opera’s production of La Hija de Rappacini, there was “excellent dramatic and musical support from mezzo Jessica Grigg as Isabela.”
Arlo McKinnon

The New York Times

“The cast was excellent” in Gotham Chamber Opera’s production of Daniel Catan’s “La Hija de Rappacinin” at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. They were “led by tenor Daniel Montenegro” and “joined by the mezzo-soprano Jessica Grigg.”

Zachary Woolfe

New York Post

In Gotham Opera’s “La Hija de Rappacini” by Daniel Catan, “Jessica Grigg deployed her tangy mezzo to create a sharp cameo as a meddling landlady.”

James Jorden

Opera News

In Teatro Grattacielo’s Siberia, “Mezzo Jessica Grigg, as Vassili’s mother Nikona, sang with remarkable stylistic authority, recalling the sound of Italian verismo divas we hear on 78 rpm recordings.”

Eric Myers

The Buffalo News
As Carmen with Julius Rudel and the Buffalo Philharmonic: “As Carmen, mezzo Jessica Grigg
sang with a vibrant quality and dark tone, a wholly believable seductress . . .”
Herman Trotter

The Westfield Leader
As Suzuki in Little Opera Company of New Jersey’s Madame Butterfly “Ms. Grigg’s
award-winning velvet voice—lush and creamy—begs for more stage time.”
Susan Myrill Dougherty

New York Concert Review, Inc.
"All three soloists were perfectly cast for their roles" in DCINY's  With Strength and Joy.  "Mezzo-Soprano Jessica Grigg sang the the Domine deus, Agnus dei beautifully"
Frank Daykin

Awards and Affiliations

The Metropolitan Opera
Winner of The Metropolitan Opera Competition’s New York District

Opera North
Winner of Operafest NH

NATS
Finalist in New York City’s NATS Competition

National Opera Association Competition
Finalist in the National Opera Association Competition

Jessica is a member of AGMA and Sing for Hope.