Haeran HONG

Praised for her “gleaming tone” by the New York Times and “acrobatic soprano voice” by the Seattle Times, soprano Haeran Hong is a distinguished artist whose career spans opera, concert, and recital stages internationally. In the 2025–2026 season, she performed Violetta in La traviata with Classic Weekends Festival in Seoul and Adina in L’elisir d’amore with Dorset Opera Festival. Career highlights include Gilda in Rigoletto with Seoul Metropolitan Opera, Violetta in La traviata with Opera in Williamsburg, Giovanna in Giovanna d’Arco with Odyssey Opera, Micaela in Carmen at the Croatian National Theatre Osijek, and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor with Florida Grand Opera. Ms. Hong has also sung with the Metropolitan Opera, where she has covered numerous roles, including Nannetta in Falstaff, Sophie in Werther, Sister Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites, and Oscar in Un ballo in maschera.

Beyond the opera stage, Ms. Hong maintains an active concert career, having appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The John F. Kennedy Center, and The Ford Theatre, as well as with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg. Her 2025–2026 concert engagements included Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder with the Gwangju Symphony Orchestra and the world premiere of Texu Kim’s The Grass Still Grows: A Cantata for Memory, Community, and Hope with the New York Classical Players. She has also been invited to perform at prestigious events, including the Aspen Music Festival’s 20th Anniversary at Harris Concert Hall and the 60th Anniversary of the Korea-U.S. Alliance, celebrated through a concert tour spanning New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

In 2011, Ms. Hong made history as the first Asian singer to win the vocal category of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium. Following her victory, she presented more than ten solo recitals internationally, further establishing her presence on the global stage. Her career has since taken her to major opera houses and festivals worldwide, including The Metropolitan Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Luxembourg International Music Festival, and the PyeongChang Daegwallyeong Music Festival.
In January 2020, Ms. Hong released her first full-length album, Song of Hope, featuring Korean art songs. The album reached first place on classical vocal and LP album charts, and in 2022, her contributions to music were recognized with the 54th Nanpa Music Award.

Ms. Hong graduated from the Korea National University of Arts before earning both a Master of Music degree and an Artist Diploma in Opera Studies from The Juilliard School. She is currently a full-time professor of vocal performance at the Korea National University of Arts, where she is dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of opera singers.