Mezzo Soprano DONNA OLSON is a native of Boston, MA where she received her degree at the Boston Conservatory of Music. Donna's upcoming performances are with the West Bay Opera singing the role of Ulrica in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera and Sacramento Opera singing Flora in Verdi's La Traviata. Donna sang Mozart's Requiem with George Cleve and the Midsummer Mozart Festival in 2002.

Donna is the resident Mezzo Soprano at Opera San Jose. In 2002/03, she sang the roles of Tisbé in Rossini's La Cenerentola, Siebel in Gounod's Faust, and Second Lady in Mozart's The Magic Flute. In 2001/02, she sang the roles of Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutti, Susuki in Madame Butterfly, Meg in Falstaff and Rosette in Manon. Recently Donna performed with Washington East Opera for its "Greatest Hits" Concert singing excerpts from Carmen, Rigoletto, Werther and La Traviata. She performed the roles of Prince Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus with the Columbia Symphony and Flora in La Traviata with Nevada Opera. In 2000 she sang the role of Vashti as an Operatic monodrama with the Old Church Opera; Donna was responsible for the creative concepts and the staging of this piece. She also sang Second Lady in Magic Flute with Washington East Opera. She was invited back to Nevada Opera as a Member's Choice to do Rigoletto excerpts as Madalena and Niklaus in Tales of Hoffman. Her recent concert work has been the Durufle Requiem and Messiah with both the Seattle Northwest Symphony and Bravo Symphony, Beethoven's 9th with Willamette Falls Symphony. She will return to sing both the Durufle Requiem with both the Los Gatos Symphony and the Columbia Symphony. Since relocating to the Northwest, she has been well sought in Opera, Oratorio and recital work. She has made her professional debut with Eugene Opera as Third Lady in the Magic Flute, Portland Opera as Karolka in Jenufa, Oregon Symphony in Beethoven's 9th and Handel's Messiah, Portland Chamber Orchestra in Defalla's El Amor Brujo, Newport Symphony in Mozart's Requiem and Vancouver Symphony in Handel's Messiah. Other performances include Martha in Faust with Nevada Opera, Mercedes in Carmen with Opera Idaho, the Marquise of Berkenfeld in Daughter of the Regiment with Nevada Opera, Ramiro in La Finta Giardiniera with Portland Chamber Orchestra, and the premier of local composer Jim Day's From the Heart of the Artist songs at George Fox University. In addition to Donna's outstanding performing abilities on stage, she has been recognized as an artist of great expression and professional integrity. Donna was the 1995 & 96 Metropolitan Opera National Council District Winner and Regional Finalist. Donna was also a 1995 & 96 finalist in the Ellen Faull Gordon Vocal Competition. She has performed with Boston Children's Opera, Boston Conservatory Opera Theater, Pioneer Opera, Stockton Opera, Sierra Opera and Auburn City Opera. Engagements include roles in La Nozze di Figaro, Die Fledermaus, The Magic Flute, Help! Help! The Globolinks, Il Signor Bruschino, Amahl and the Night Visitors and L'enfant et les Sortileges. She has performed with orchestras across the States in a variety of recitals and concerts, winning several young artist awards. Donna was the featured singer at the Festa Italiana; Opera in the Square in 1998/99.

Pending Solo Recitals and performances are with Franklin & Marshall College and Vashti at the 92nd Street Y. Donna is a student of Ellen Faull Gordon, Emeritus, The Julliard School.