Soprano Jaeeun Shin, a distinguished South Korean artist, was recently made her Walt Disney Concert Hall debut in Los Angeles as a soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, marking an important milestone in her artistic career. During the 2026 season at UCLA, she further showcased her vocal versatility in two major operatic roles: the virtuosic Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. This performances allowed her to explore contrasting facets of her artistry, from the dramatic brilliance and formidable vocal demands of the Queen of the Night to the expressive complexity.
In 2025, Ms. Shin was named the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Los Angeles District Winner and awarded Third Prize in the Western Region. Earlier that season, she made her mark at Carnegie Hall as a 2025 SongStudio Young Artist, presenting a captivating recital and participating in master classes with legendary soprano Renée Fleming and esteemed pianist Hartmut Höll.
Ms. Shin has also made a mark on the international stage, participating in the 2024 Operalia, The World Opera Competition sponsored by Rolex, and the 2024 Concours de Genève International Music Competition, reaching the semi-finals in both. In 2025, she participated in the Concours musical international de Montréal. Her international appearances also include the prestigious 2023 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium, one of the world’s most revered music competitions.
In the 2023-2024 season, Ms. Shin captivated audiences as Anne Trulove in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress at the Shubert Theatre with the Yale Philharmonic, conducted by Daniela Candillari for Yale Opera. Additionally, she shone as Giulietta in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi and as Sophie in Massenet’s Werther at the Yale Fall Opera Scenes.
During the 2022-2023 season at Yale, Ms. Shin excelled in the title role of Adèle in Rossini’s Le Comte Ory. She also graced the stage at the Yale Opera Gala with the Yale Philharmonic, delivering memorable performances as Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto. Furthermore, she enchanted audiences as the title heroine in Delibes’ Lakmé during the Yale Fall Opera Scenes.
Ms. Shin’s earlier training at the New England Conservatory (NEC) saw her embodying roles such as Norina in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Fire and Nightingale in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges, and Aminta in Mozart’s Il re pastore, all performed with the NEC Philharmonic at the historic Jordan Hall. Her repertoire at NEC Opera Scenes included roles such as Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Cleopatra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Norina in Don Pasquale, and Lisette in Puccini’s La Rondine. She also delighted audiences in the Liederabend series with exquisite renditions of songs by Debussy, Fauré, and Strauss, and honed her craft in master classes with luminaries such as Joan Dornemann, Patricia Racette, and coach Margo Garrett.
Ms. Shin’s illustrious journey began in Korea, where she made her stage debut at the age of eight as Little Cosette in Les Misérables at the Seoul Arts Center. A graduate of Sunhwa Arts Middle School and Seoul Arts High School, she pursued her higher education at Korea National University of Arts (KNUA), earning her Bachelor of Music degree with top honors and scholarships. At KNUA, she mesmerized audiences in Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the Seoul Arts Center and graduated with the highest distinction in practical skills. Her accolades include numerous prizes such as the Rising Stars Competition, the Korea Voice (Lee Dae-Woong) Competition, and the Music Education News Competition.
Ms. Shin’s academic journey is marked by her Bachelor of Music degree from KNUA under Youngmi Kim, a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory under Lorraine Lubar, and a Master of Musical Arts degree from Yale University under Gerald Martin Moore. Her exceptional talent has been recognized with numerous scholarships and fellowships, including the Richard M. and Priscilla Hunt Fund for Opera Students at NEC, and the Edward & Susan Greenberg Scholarship, George Wellington Moles Fellowship, Henry & Lucy Moses Scholarship, Toscanini Scholarship, and Troostwyk Scholarship at Yale.
Looking ahead to 2027, Ms. Shin will return to Korea to appear as Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at the Seoul Arts Center. She will also appear as the title role in Kaija Saariaho’s opera Émilie at UCLA, further expanding her repertoire into contemporary opera and continuing her exploration of dramatically and musically demanding roles.
