Mezzo-soprano Erica Brookhyser, who makes her Company debut as Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, is in her first year with the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program. During the 2008/09 season, she also performs Waltraute in Die Walküre, Annina in La Traviata and Mercedes in student performances of Carmen. Operatic appearances include the title role in family performances of Cendrillon with Central City Opera, Tisbe in La Cenerentola with Utah Opera, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opera New England and Myrtale in Thaïs with Boston Lyric Opera. As a concert soloist, she has performed with the Utah Symphony and Boston Symphony in repertoire ranging from Handel's Messiah to Schoenberg's Moses und Aron. She is the recipient of many honors including semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, finalist in the MacAllister Awards and winner of the Shrestinian Award for Excellence. A native of Oregon, she holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon and a master's degree from the New England Conservatory. Additional operatic training includes the apprentice programs of Santa Fe Opera, Utah Opera, Central City Opera and Tanglewood Music Festival.