Mexican-American soprano Catherine Thornsley is a two-time National Semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She was selected as a resident artist for three seasons (2023–2025) at the prestigious Glimmerglass Festival, where she covered Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème, Nedda in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, and Tosca in Puccini’s Tosca. She made her principal role debut on the Glimmerglass stage in 2024 as the Queen in Jen Ibsen’s youth opera Rumpelstiltskin and the Unlovable Children, and returned in 2025 as Cathy, Queen of Cats, in Derek Bermel’s The House on Mango Street—both world premieres.

Catherine earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University under the guidance of Dr. Judith Cloud, followed by a Master’s in Opera Performance at the University of British Columbia under Nancy Hermiston. With UBC opera, she has performed notable roles such as Marta in the Canadian premiere of Weinberg’s Pasażerka, Madame Cortese in Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims, Contessa Almaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, and the title role in Dvořák’s Rusalka.

Catherine is committed to making classical music more accessible, frequently collaborating with local opera companies and musicians to engage diverse audiences. During her time in Vancouver, Catherine worked with local opera companies, including Opera Lirica, Burnaby Lyric Opera, and Nebula Performances, helping to bring opera to the community. Passionate about diversifying the classical music landscape, Catherine finds fulfillment in projects that amplify overlooked voices. With the support of the Canadian Music Centre of BC and in collaboration with pianist Richard Epp, she curated a concert featuring works by women composers from BC, Mexico, and Arizona—regions deeply connected to her journey as a performer. She also collaborated with Opera Lirica Vancouver to bring works by Mexican composers to life as part of their Heritage Concert series.

Catherine draws inspiration from the resilience of everyday people and the way music provides both emotional and creative release. When not performing, she enjoys teaching breathing and singing techniques, helping others discover the joy and freedom she experiences through music.