Dr. Briana Sosenheimer has directed and assistant directed over 30 different productions with Indianapolis Opera, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Chicago Summer Opera, Ball State University, Anderson University, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Georgia Southern University. Her comedic staging has been praised by the PA Theater Guide as “pure fun”. With a passion for opera outreach, she has pastiche composed four operas for children which have been performed across the country. Her opera for children The Three Little Hoosier Pigs was part of Indianapolis Opera’s 2020-21 season.
As a soprano, she has sung internationally in Austria, Canada, Italy, South Africa, and throughout the United States. This includes performing principle roles in productions of Le nozze di Figaro, La Boheme, Werther, and Carmen. She has also appeared as a soloist in oratorios including Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Coronation Mass. As a recitalist, Dr. Sosenheimer delves into contemporary works and late German lieder. She is a former member of the Bowling Green Children’s Opera and Indianapolis Opera Ensemble that presented educational outreach programs and performed children’s operas throughout the Midwest.
As a former member of In Sync Dance Theatre, Dr. Sosenheimer had the opportunity to perform with Chicago Tap Theatre. Choreographed productions include GREASE The Musical, The Little Mermaid, and South Pacific. Dr. Sosenheimer is a member of The Southern Open Rhythm Collective promoting the education and appreciation of the art of tap dance.
Dr. Sosenheimer graduated from Hope College with a B.M. in vocal performance and minor in dance. She holds a M.M. in Vocal Performance from Bowling Green State University and a D.A. in Vocal Performance and Stage Direction from Ball State University. She most recently earned a Level I certification in Somatic Voicework - The LoVetri Method for vocal training in Contemporary Commercial Music styles. She has served as the Stage Director for the I.O. Resident Artist Ensemble and the Resident Assistant Director at Indianapolis Opera as well as held faculty positions at Purdue University Fort Wayne and Taylor University in Indiana. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Professor of Music (Voice) and Director of Singers' Workshop at the Hurley School of Music.