Reviewed as “a genuine plummy contralto that warmed the heart” (Parterre Box), Kristin Starkey has been making a name for herself within the mezzo and contralto repertoire with her unique vocal quality and dynamic range. In early 2020, Kristin debuted the role of Madame de Croissy (Dialogues des Carmélites) with Stony Brook Opera as a returning alumni. In summer of 2019, Kristin performed the role of Schwertleite (Die Walküre), First Norn (Götterdämmerung), and covered Zita (Gianni Schicci) and Queen Leda (Die Liebe der Danae) with Pittsburgh Opera Festival in their Mastersinger Project for Young Dramatic Voices program studying under Jane Eaglen. In January of 2018, Kristin sang with The Metropolitan Opera workshopping Matt Aucoin’s exciting new commission, Eurydice, as the role of Big Stone. In 2017, she debuted Lucretia in Stony Brook Opera’s Rape of Lucretia. Other recent performances include Geneviéve in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, Third Lady in Die Zauberflote with Occasional Opera Company, Opera Company of Brooklyn as Erda in Das Rheingold, La Cieca in La Gioconda, and with New York Lyric Opera as La Principessa in Puccini's Suor Angelica and as Grimgerde in Die Walkure. She was also a featured soloist with One World Symphony in the acclaimed Games of Thrones operasode performing Prokofiev’s Field of the Dead directed by Sung Jin Hong. The Guardian reviewed her as “the real standout…her surprising voice and doleful phrasing made this song effective." She has sung various solo and chamber repertoire, notably Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder, in Austria with AlpenKammerMusik, a festival artist program. She has also been an Apprentice Artist for OperaNEO, a Young Artist Program out of San Diego performing the role of La Haine in Gluck’s Armide.

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Kristin made her opera debut in the spring of 2014 as Mrs. Grose in Britten’s Turn of the Screw with Stony Brook Opera, and since then performed many roles with various companies. Roles include Lucretia (Rape of Lucretia), La Cieca (La Gioconda), Erda (Das Rheingold), La Principessa (Suor Angelica), Grimgerde (Die Walkure), Myrtale (Thais), Il Tebro (O come chiare e belle), and Alisa (Lucia di Lammermoor). She has had partial roles as Dalila (Samson et Dalila), Carmen (Carmen), Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas), Angelina (Cenerentola), Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier), Nicklausse and La Voix (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Musette (La Bohème, Leoncavallo), Hermia (Midsummer Night’s Dream), Dorabella (Così fan tutte) and Arsamene (Serse). 

In 2018, Kristin graduated with her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance  from Stony Brook University, New York. Throughout her Doctorate and Masters, she studied with renowned soprano Brenda Harris. She also completed her Bachelor of Music in Music Education with classical guitar as her concentration at Long Island University. She recently moved to the Dalarna region of Sweden and enjoys spending time between there and New York, her home city.

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During the pandemic, Kristin branched out into the metal scene and has done numerous covers and collaborations with many metal artists and bands. https://www.youtube.com/kristinstarkey 

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Kristin is managed by Svanholm Artist Management in Sweden.