Marlina Karimi, Iranian-American Soprano, is from West Palm Beach, FL. Karimi was an Apprentice Artist at Sarasota Opera for their Winter 2024 season, where she covered Laura in Luisa Miller and performed in their chorus for Carmen, Luisa Miller, and Lucia di Lammermoor. During her studies with Dr. Linda Di Fiore at DePaul University, Karimi performed the role Lady Billows in their Opera Theatre Spring 2023 production Albert Herring, directed by Harry Silverstein. Karimi was a soloist in King David by Arnold Honegger in Winter 2023, and a featured soloist performing Cio-Cio san’s aria Un bel di vedremo from Madama Butterfly with the DePaul Symphony Orchestra in Fall 2023. In summer 2022, Karimi attended the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz Austria where she earned 3rd Place in the Meistersinger Competition singing Giulietta’s aria O quante volte, conducted by Marzio Conti. She returned in Summer 2023 working on the Arts Admin staff, and was invited to perform as a soloist with the AIMS Gospel Chorus conducted by Alfonse Anderson. In both the spring and fall of 2019, she participated in the Opera Naples Academy receiving direction from Stefano de Peppo, Bruce Ford, Sherrill Milnes, Alexandra Naumenko, Manny Perez, and Verónica Villaroel. Karimi previously worked with Opera Naples as a chorister in their productions of Aida, Carmen, La Bohéme, and Trial by Jury. Karimi’s other awards are Honorable Mention in the 2023 St. Petersburg Opera Guild Competition, Finalist in 2023 Sinfonietta Bel Canto Voice Competition, 3rd prize and Honorable Mention in 2020 and 2021 with the Ohio National Association of Teachers Singing, 1st Prize as Jeanie Queen with the Florida Federation of Music Clubs Jeanie and Stephen Foster Awards, and 1st Prize in Vocal area of the Jillian Prescott Awards in 2017. She has also performed various concert performances of the roles Fiordiligi from Cosi fan Tutte, Donna Anna from Don Giovanni, Rosalinde from Die Fledermaus, Amelia from Un ballo in Maschera, Marguerite from Faust, and Erste Dame from Die Zauberflote. Karimi’s first role was Suzel from L’Amico Fritz at YSU in spring 2022. Karimi holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Youngstown State University and a Bachelor of Music Education on Clarinet from Florida Gulf Coast University. Karimi is currently the Artistic Administration and Operations Coordinator at Cleveland Institute of Music.