Asian American mezzo-soprano Miya Higashiyama (pronounced Mee-ya)  is currently residing in the Chicago area where she recently graduated Northwestern University ('22) with a Master of Music degree under the tutelage of Theresa Brancaccio. She was most recently seen at Lyric Opera of Chicago as Bernice Barbelle in Lyric Unlimited's Katie: The Strongest of the Strong.

Previously she sang the role of Frida Kahlo in Lyric Unlimited's Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World as well as Molly Brown in Lyric Unlimited's The Scorpions' Sting by Dean Burry. In the 22/23 season, Miya was selected to be the mezzo-soprano fellow in Grant Park Music Festival's Inclusion Fellowship, and joined Des Moines Metro Opera as an Apprentice Artist in their 50th season where she sang Moth in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Dorabella/Cenerentola in scenes. ​

 

While at Northwestern, Miya performed the role of Rachel in the Midwest premiere of Jake Heggie's If I Were You, La Messagiera in Monteverdi's L'Orfeo (as a remote project due to COVID-19), Orlofsky (u/s) in Die Fledermaus, and scenes from Cosi fan tutte as Dorabella. Miya is a winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (Wisconsin District) and placed in the top fourteen as a national semi-finalist in the NATS Classical Voice Competition in the Advanced Classical Treble category July 2021. Miya completed her Bachelor of Music at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington where she sang operatic roles such as Ruggiero (Alcina), Rosina (The Barber of Seville), Public Opinion (Orpheus in the Underworld), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), and Zita (Gianni Schicchi).  In 2016 Miya was one of four participants featured in the Joyce DiDonato Carnegie Hall masterclasses streamed worldwide on Medici.tv and now available to watch on Youtube.​

​

Currently, Miya is a regular member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Grant Park Music Festival Chorus, and regularly sings in Chicago Acapella and the Lyric Opera of Chicago chorus.

​

Miya is also well versed in musical theatre repertoire/belting technique and has sung musical theatre roles and songs on stage, in concert, and in masterclass. A versatile performer, Miya enjoys singing and producing jazz, pop music, electronic mixing and more, all of which can be found on her social media and the "media' section of this website.

​​

Miya deeply enjoys film, video editing, movie commentary, reviews, and online media. Her first short film, thepedersonproject.net, won Honorable Mention at L.A Indie Horror Film Fest. You can find her film work on Instagram, Youtube, and Tiktok @movieswithmiya.