Recently cited by the New York Times for her “especially lovely” singing, Elissa Johnston enjoys diving into repertoire ranging from Bach, Handel and Mozart to Messiaen, Carter and Unsuk Chin. In the 20/21 season Elissa performed in several live capture concerts, with Pacific Symphony under Carl St. Clair in Canteloube’s Chants d’Auvergne, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel in John Adams’ Grand Pianola Music, and with Pittance Chamber Music, in chamber music of André Previn. This season Johnston returns to the Los Angeles Philharmonic to sing in Die Staat by Louis Andriessen, conducted by John Adams. She also appears with Jacaranda Music in Bach’s Easter Oratorio, with Pittance Chamber Music in Brahms Liebeslieder and Neue Liebeslieder Waltzes, with the Los Angeles Master Chorale in Handel’s Dixit Dominus, at the Los Angeles Hear Now Music Festival in Vicki Ray’s Zenspiel, and with MUSE/IQUE singing music of Bob Dylan.

Highlights from the 19/20 season include singing arias by Handel and Scarlatti with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah with Pacific Symphony, and Bruckner’s Mass in F Minor with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Elissa made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2018 with the Pacific Symphony under Carl St. Clair, singing the role of Sarada Devi in Philip Glass’ The Passion of Ramakrishna, as part of Carnegie’s yearlong celebration of Philip Glass’ 80 th birthday. Other recent appearances have included the west coast premiere of Reena Esmail’s This Love Between Us, the world premiere of Michael Daugherty’s To the New World, Mahler’s 4 th Symphony, Samuel Barber’s Knoxville, Summer of 1915, Messiaen’s epic song cycle Harawi with pianist Vicki Ray, David Lang’s The Little Match Girl Passion, Schoenberg’s String Quartet No. 2, Brahms Requiem, Poulenc’s Gloria, Stravinsky’s Les Noces, and world premieres of
Chinary Ung’s SPIRAL XII and AURA. Elissa is a member of the ensemble in Peter Sellars production of Di Lasso’s Lagrime di San Pietro with the Los Angeles Master Chorale under Grant Gershon, which has appeared in performances worldwide, including at the Salzburg Festival, the Ravinia Festival, Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Auckland Arts Festival.