Lebanese-American mezzo-soprano Melanie Ashkar is known for the “rich texture” of her voice and her “delightfully expressive” stage presence. She has performed across the United States with Utah Opera, Utah Symphony, Central City Opera, New York City Opera, Washington Concert Opera, OperaDelaware, the Oratorio Society of Virginia, the Canton Symphony Orchestra, and more. Internationally, she has appeared with the Lebanese National Philharmonic Orchestra in Beirut, Lebanon and with Centre d’Art Lyrique de la Méditerranée in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France. She is delighted to return to Opera in the Heights after her debut last season as the Fox in The Little Prince. She holds degrees from the University of Virginia, Georgetown University, and Mannes College.