Mei Gui Zhang
Congratulations to CLA alumna soprano Mei Gui Zhang, who has been nominated for San Francisco Opera's Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Emerging Stars Competition!
The Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Emerging Stars Competition celebrates a select group of San Francisco Opera artists whose performances have made a lasting impression throughout the season. Recognizing exceptional emerging talent and artistic excellence, the competition shines a spotlight on singers whose work is helping shape the future of opera. Mei Gui's nomination reflects the remarkable impact of her performances with San Francisco Opera and marks another exciting milestone in her growing career. Mei Gui received her nomination for her portrayal of Guanyin in the world premiere of Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang's The Monkey King with San Francisco Opera in 2025.
Mei Gui as Guanyin in The Monkey King,San Francisco Opera
Mei Gui participated in CLA Italy 2014, where she experienced the immersive training that lies at the heart of every CLA program: refining musicality and artistic interpretation through the pillars of language, culture, and history.
Since CLA, Mei Gui has established herself as a compelling young professional in a wide range of repertoire. Her previous performances with San Francisco Opera have included Dai Yu in Bright Sheng & David Henry Hwang's Dream of the Red Chamber, Eurydice in Gluck's Orphée et Eurydice, and Oscar in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera.
Her acclaimed portrayal of Oscar in Un ballo in maschera earned Mei Gui a nomination for the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Emerging Stars Competition during the 2024-2025 season. This competition celebrates singers whose performances demonstrate extraordinary promise, artistry, and audience appeal, making both her previous and current nominations meaningful recognitions of Mei Gui's continued artistic growth.
Mei Gui and Ubaldo Fabbri, CLA Italy 2014
Aside from her work with San Francisco Opera, Mei Gui has established herself as a versatile and compelling artist on some of the world’s leading stages. She joined the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, where she made her company debut as the Bloody Child in Verdi’s Macbeth and later performed Barbarina in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Additionally, she has performed Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto with the Royal Opera House, Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with The Atlanta Opera and the Verbier Festival, Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with The Atlanta Opera and LA Opera, and Despina in Mozart’s Così fan tutte with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood.
Mei Gui has Oscar in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera,San Francisco Opera
Mei Gui has also been recognized at several prestigious competitions, including being named a finalist in the Queen Sonja International Music Competition, a laureate of the Verbier Festival’s Prix Yves Paternot, and a representative of China in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.
From her time at CLA to her steady momentum in the professional opera world, Mei Gui's journey exemplifies the artistry and excellence that define CLA training. The CLA Artistic Team is thrilled to celebrate this exciting milestone and congratulate Mei Gui on her well-deserved honor. We look forward to following the next chapter of her career and wish her the very best in the Emerging Stars Competition!