Jessie Lyons is a Chicago-based soprano who has been enthusiastically received by audiences in the United States and abroad.



Jessie has been described as "an amazingly talented young lyric soprano [with] a unique voice that is strong and warm throughout her range," and her "poise and natural stage presence put her at the top of the list among her current peers." (Matthew Chellis, international performing artist).  



Of one performance, Stage West Des Moines director Paul Dieke said, "Jessie has an exciting voice, brilliant and powerful, with secure, well-developed high tones.  She was musically accurate and approached her roles with sensitivity and expressiveness.  Dramatically, she was superb.  Her anger/fight scene was mesmerizing."



Jessie has appeared in productions with numerous opera companies, as soloist with orchestra, and in recital.  She has most recently been seen as Miss Jessel in Chicago Fringe Opera's immersive production of Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw; Almera in Nico Muhly's Dark Sisters with Third Eye Theatre; and performing Thomas Pasatieri's monodrama Lady Macbeth.  Recent seasons have also found her in Madison Opera's productions of Puccini's Tosca and Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking; and Puccini's La Rondine with Des Moines Metro Opera.

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In more intimate spaces, Jessie performs recitals of art song for voice and guitar with long-time collaborator Jordan Mandela.  The duo's repertoire includes works by Benjamin Britten, Lennox Berkeley, Dominick Argento, Manuel de Falla, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and more.

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Jessie holds a Bachelor's Degree from Luther College and a Master's Degree from Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts.  She has also participated in the Manhattan School of Music Summer Festival.