Grammy-nominated soprano Hannah Cho is celebrated for her luminous tone, dramatic sensitivity, and refined artistry, with a particular passion for contemporary works, art song, and re-imagined staple repertoire.

​

Ms. Cho earned widespread critical acclaim for her portrayal of Josephine Young in the New York premiere of Huang Ruo’s An American Soldier at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, with The New York Times praising her “lucid soprano” that “soared as Josephine,” and The Wall Street Journal noting that she “relished Josephine’s high-flying vocal lines and exuded warmth.”

​

In recent seasons, Ms. Cho has delivered standout performances across both classic and re-interpretive opera. She starred as Cio-Cio-San in Pocket Opera’s progressive production of Madama Butterfly, performed in a bilingual libretto designed to deepen dramatic clarity. Critic Joshua Kosman praised her “luminous, impeccable Cio-Cio-San,” marked by “tender, steely grace” and “radiant melody.” In addition, the San Francisco Chronicle highlighted her extraordinary range of vocal color, describing performances that moved from “gossamer” delicacy to “cannon-blast” power, rendered with richly textured lyricism.

​

Her operatic roles span both traditional and innovative productions, including leading portrayals of Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Calisto (La Calisto), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Yum-Yum (The Mikado), CioCioSan (Madama Butterfly) and Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) with companies such as Mannes Opera, Pocket Opera, Opera Naples, Daejeon Opera, and Livermore Valley Opera. She has also covered the role of Violetta (La traviata) with Korea National Opera. 

​

A dedicated advocate for world premieres and new works, Ms. Cho has created roles such as Nightingale in A Song of Nightingale (On Site Opera), Little Madame Shoes in Red Shoes (Korea National Opera), and Nanako in Dong Ju Yun. She was recently featured on WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase, hosted by Simone Dinnerstein, and participated in the prestigious Merola Opera Program, appearing as Marzellina in Fidelio and Musetta in La bohème.

​

In concert, Ms. Cho has appeared as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Cohen’s Nizkor: A Journey of Remembrance, and Penderecki’s Agnus Dei and Sanctus.

Her performances have graced prestigious venues worldwide, including the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House, the San Francisco Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Beijing Grand Theater, and the Seoul Arts Center.

​

Ms. Cho’s excellence has been recognized with numerous accolades, including first prizes at the Beijing International Opera Competition, Korea National Opera Competition, Daejeon Opera Competition, Seil Korean Art Song Competition, and German Lieder Association Competition. She is also a prize winner of the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition and the KBS Competition, and has received grants from the Gerda Lissner Foundation, the Goldsmith Foundation, and the Michael Sisca Opera Award.