Bio
Chinese lyric mezzo-soprano Xiao Xiao is quickly gaining recognition for the warmth and brilliance of her voice, as well as her soulful artistry and compelling stage presence.
Xiao’s notable roles include the title role in La Cenerentola and L’enfant et les sortilèges, Ma Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Contessa in I Due Figaro, Linfea and Il Destino in Cavalli’s La Calisto, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Mercédès in Carmen, Hiroko (Mama) in An American Dream, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Jim in The Gift of the Magi, and Henrietta Wong in the premiere production of Harvey Milk, among others. Her concert highlights include Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy. Xiao has made a strong impression through engagements with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, The Glimmerglass Festival, and Opera de Metro.
Embracing both traditional and contemporary works, Xiao has participated in several world premiere and newly commissioned works, helping bring new stories to life. From the operatic stage to the recital hall, she is passionate about creating meaningful connections through music and strives to bring depth, authenticity, and emotional resonance to audiences around the world.
Xiao was a District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and is also a prizewinner of the Toscanini International Competition and the Orpheus Vocal Competition. She holds degrees from the China Conservatory of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and New England Conservatory, and recently earned her DMA from Michigan State University.
In the 2026-27 Season, Xiao joins Opera Colorado as a Resident Artist, performing the Lady-in-Waiting in Verdi’s Macbeth, covering Dorabella in Mozart’s The School for Lovers (Così fan tutte), and appearing as the Mother in the touring production Earth to Kenzie. She will also return as Snake/Sheep in The Big Swim, the opera commissioned by Houston Grand Opera and Asia Society Texas, celebrating the Year of the Sheep.