Julia Benzinger

Julia is an educator, arts advocate, and award-winning opera singer on a mission to make the performing arts a more inclusive and innovative space. With a flair for storytelling and a passion for activism, she uses music and theater to shine a light on contemporary issues.

In the 2025-2026 season, Julia directs Vox, a one-day, multi-location production of Poulenc's La voix humaine, and performs as the protagonist in the U.S. premiere of disPLACE with Rising Waters Collective.

Growing up in the majestic Pacific Northwest, Julia developed a love for the arts, Nature, science, and technology—all of which she aims to bridge through creative collaboration.

With over 20 years of experience on stages worldwide, including seven seasons as a principal mezzo-soprano with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Julia has had the privilege of performing for audiences around the globe. Known for her dynamic range and expressiveness, Julia has performed a wide array of roles, highlights of which include Komponist (Ariadne auf Naxos), Mère Marie (Dialogues des Carmélites), Mistress Quickly (Falstaff), Venus (Tannhäuser), Kundry (Parsifal), The Fox (The Cunning Little Vixen), Le Prince Charmant (Cendrillon), Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro), Fricka (Das Rheingold and Die Walküre), Erda (Götterdämmerung), Zita (Gianni Schicchi), and the title roles in Carmen, Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia), Casandra (Gnecchi), Pénélope (Faure), and Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel​).

As Managing Director of Pacific MusicWorks and Co-Director of Seattle Art Song Society, Julia prioritized new commissions and innovative performance technologies to reach broader audiences and elevate a wide range of artists.

Her academic credentials include degrees in Opera Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and a Master's of Science in Arts and Cultural Management from Universitat Internacional de Catalunya in Barcelona. Julia’s curiosity drives her to empower others in realizing their artistic visions. Currently pursuing a PhD focused on women in leadership in classical music, she’s expanding her impact into arts advocacy and the production of new works.

Julia has received accolades from Sarasota Opera, The Opera Foundation, The Miami Music Festival, The Wagner Society of Northern California, and Seattle Opera Guild.

When she’s not on stage or advocating for representation in the arts, you can find Julia adventuring outdoors with her three young sons or binge-watching as much science fiction as possible.