The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance announces that Jeni Houser will join the Department of Voice & Opera as an assistant professor in August 2026. An internationally recognized soprano, Houser brings a strong performance background and extensive teaching experience to the role.
“I am thrilled to join the School of Music, Theatre & Dance,” Houser said. “I have long admired the program’s commitment to musical excellence and innovation, and I can’t wait to immerse myself in that creative spirit alongside the incredible faculty and students.”
Houser recently made debuts with the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and Dallas Opera as Königin der Nacht (the Queen of the Night) in Die Zauberflöte, a role she also has sung with Minnesota Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Cincinnati Opera, Central City Opera, and Kentucky Opera. She recently made her role debut as Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor in a return to Madison Opera and repeated the role at the Seoul Arts Center. She returned to the Dallas Opera as the title role in The Golden Cockerel. With the Wiener Staatsoper, she made her international debut as Frantzi in the world premiere of Staud’s Die Weiden, after which she joined the company for its productions of Die Zauberflöte and Trojahn’s Orest.
In the 2025-26 season, Houser will make her debut with the Utah Symphony in Orff’s Carmina Burana, sing her first performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in a return to the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and return to the Metropolitan Opera for its production of Arabella. Coming seasons see another return to the Metropolitan Opera in a favorite role. Last season, she sang Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance with Charlottesville Opera and performed Die Zauberflöte at the Metropolitan Opera and the Grand Teton Music Festival.
Houser has sung Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos with Austin Opera and Minnesota Opera. With Minnesota Opera, she also sang Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, the Charmeuse in Thaïs, and Mrs. Grady in the world premiere of Paul Moravec’s The Shining. With Madison Opera, she has sung Cunegonde in Candide, Olympia in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music, and Amy in Mark Adamo’s Little Women.
She also has sung Johanna in Sweeney Todd with Mill City Summer Opera and Baltimore Concert Opera. She joined On Site Opera as Susanna in Marcos Portugal’s Le nozze di Figaro in her New York City debut, Odyssey Opera in Boston as Cecily in Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and Fort Worth Opera as Viv in the premiere of Rachel J. Peters’s Companionship.
On the concert stage, Houser has performed Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Phoenix Symphony, Madison Symphony Orchestra, Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Florida Orchestra, and Atlanta Ballet, as well as Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem, Haydn’s The Creation, and Mozart’s Requiem with Abendmusik: Lincoln.
“The Department of Voice & Opera is thrilled to announce the appointment of Jeni Houser to our faculty,” said Stephen West, professor and chair of the Department of Voice & Opera. “Her international reputation, with leading roles at many of the world’s most famous opera houses, and commitment to education will make her an excellent colleague at SMTD. We are honored to welcome her to our community, where she will be an invaluable asset to our students and institution.”
Alongside her performing career, Houser is a dedicated educator and mentor, having served on the faculties of the University of Notre Dame and given masterclasses at institutions including Northwestern University, Viterbo University, and Madison Opera. Houser is an alumna of the young artist programs of the Glimmerglass Festival, Virginia Opera, and Opera Saratoga. She won second place at the Nicholas Loren Vocal Competition, was a two-time regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and was a national semifinalist in the NATS Artist Award Competition. Houser holds degrees from Lawrence University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.