Mary Jane Johnson

About

Mary Jane Johnson is an internationally acclaimed dramatic soprano and Artist Professor at Amarillo College, where she has taught since 2000. Born in Pampa, Texas, Ms. Johnson is counted among the great dramatic sopranos and is considered one of operas premiere interpreters. She was famously discovered by Luciano Pavarotti in 1981 at his first International Voice Competition in Philadelphia. Her illustrious career includes the role of Emilia Marty in Janaceks The Makropoulos Case at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Lady Macbeth in Verdis Macbeth, and Katarina Ismailova in Shostakovichs Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at the Opera Bastille of Paris. Ms. Johnson performed with Luciano Pavarotti in a televised performance as Musetta in Puccinis La Boheme, launching her international career. She studied voice with Jerry Doan at West Texas State University, who switched her from mezzo-soprano to soprano repertory. Ms. Johnson traveled the globe as an opera star in the 1980s and 1990s before bringing her performing career to a close in 2005. She was staff vocal coach for the Santa Fe Opera from 2001-2005. In addition to her teaching position at Amarillo College, Ms. Johnson serves as General Director and Artistic Director of Amarillo Opera, a position she assumed in 2018. She co-founded the Taos Opera Institute and continues to serve as its Artistic Director. Ms. Johnson is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of opera singers in the Texas Panhandle region.

Education & Qualifications

Masters degree in performance at West Texas State University, studied voice with Dr. Jerry Doan

Teaching Styles