Jessica Harika

Jessica Harika serves as Assistant Professor of Voice and Opera within Towson University's Department of Music (College of Fine Arts and Communication). A Lebanese-American stage director, mezzo-soprano, and producer, she advocates for opera's evolution through modern adaptations of classical repertoire to engage diverse audiences.

Her academic credentials include:

• Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Performance: Voice and Opera, University of Maryland, College Park (2024)
• Master of Music (M.M.) in Vocal Performance, The New England Conservatory of Music (2014)
• Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Vocal Performance, Virginia Commonwealth University (2011)

Dr. Harika's artistic research centers on reimagining operatic traditions through contemporary staging practices, vocal pedagogy, and inclusive production models. Her work prioritizes expanding opera's accessibility while maintaining technical rigor in stagecraft, art song interpretation, and French diction. She actively bridges academic training with professional production through modern adaptations that address current social contexts.

Professional highlights span co-directing opera at Virginia Commonwealth University, assistant directing at Brevard Music Center's Janiec Opera Company, and founding Richmond-based River City Opera (2019). As a performer, she has collaborated with Washington Concert Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and Heartbeat Opera, with recent masterclasses under Marilyn Horne and Stephanie Blythe. She is currently completing a debut album of Jacques Leguerney's mélodies with pianist Rhys Burgess.

No scientific awards or formal student advising roles were documented in the provided materials.