Marisa Buchheit is an operatic soprano who has performed in critically acclaimed productions around the world. She sings in ten languages, including those of her own ethnic heritage: Thai, Chinese, and German. She studied vocal performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music where she graduated with Academic Honors and served as President of Mu Phi Epsilon Music Fraternity. She recently completed her Master's Degree in opera at DePaul University with Academic Distinction.
Marisa’s recent performances include recitals and fully staged operas in the United States, Italy, France, Austria, and Thailand. Her performances include The Magic Flute (Queen of the Night), Le nozze di Figaro (Susanna), Don Giovanni (Zerlina), Rigoletto (A Page/Gilda understudy), L'incoronazione di Poppea (Venus), Romance of the Western Chamber--National Premier Tour (Ying-ying), Carousel (Julie), and Chicago (Mary Sunshine), with companies such as Wichita Grand Opera, DePaul Opera Theater, American Chamber Opera, Carnegie Arts Center in Indiana, CIM Opera Theatre, and the Case Western Footlighters in Ohio. She was also a featured soloist the past 2 seasons with the Elgin and Peoria Symphony Orchestras. Marisa has sung the national anthem for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Air & Water Show, and also for many charitable organizations.
In 2014 Marisa won the title of Miss Illinois and represented the state with a year of extensive travel, performances and presentations at major events in her native Chicago and around the state. In the Miss Illinois competition she won the Grand Talent Award and the top scholarship award before later competing in ABC’s nationally televised Miss America broadcast.
Marisa is a frequent recitalist and featured soloist in the Community Chapter Concerts of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In November 2014, she won the LiPuma Memorial Scholarship Award in the Casa Italia Annual Vocal Competition. She is also a co-founder of the Soprano Trio Très belle, which performs regularly with Ravinia Festival’s Educational Outreach program and throughout Illinois.