Biography
Photo by Natalie Syverson
San Francisco based soprano Liesl McPherrin has performed a wide variety of repertoire in both opera, concerts, and musical theater, and performs with many professional ensembles as a chorister.
Liesl is a tenured member of the San Francisco Opera Chorus. She made her company solo debut in 2022, stepping in as one of the voices of the Crimson Pearl Flower in Bright Sheng’s Dream of the Red Chamber. She has since performed the roles of the receptionist in The (R)Evolution of Steve Jobs (2023) and second Edelknabe in Lohengrin (2023). In Fall 2025 Liesl will perform the role of Mrs. Charlton in Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking.
Known for her comedic roles in musical theater and light opera, Liesl has performed the roles April in Company, Pauline in La Vie Parisienne, Madame Herz in The Impresario, and the titular role in My Fair Galatea. In Spring 2019, Liesl has performed the role of Bianca and the voice of The Dawn with Island City Opera in their production of La Rondine. In addition, she played Lisette with Pocket Opera's production of La Rondine, where “Her stage ease communicated wit and salt, and so did her rich and expansive voice." - Operawire. In the role of Carolina in Cimarosa's The Secret Marriage with Pocket Opera, she was praised by San Francisco Classical Voice for her “brilliant top notes and winning comic chops.” Liesl often performs with the school and community outreach programs at Livermore Valley Opera, playing condensed versions of Serpina in La Serva Padrona, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute and Adina in Elixir of Love. Liesl made her chorus debut at San Francisco Opera in their production of Fidelio in October 2021. She earned her Bachelor of Music at San Francisco State University, and Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. In addition to her work in music, Liesl is also has completed certificates for teaching vinyasa, hatha, and yin yoga. Liesl has holds a Certificate in German Language from Diablo Valley College and studied German at ActiLingua Academy, Vienna. Liesl is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists.
Liesl is a tenured member of the San Francisco Opera Chorus. She made her company solo debut in 2022, stepping in as one of the voices of the Crimson Pearl Flower in Bright Sheng’s Dream of the Red Chamber. She has since performed the roles of the receptionist in The (R)Evolution of Steve Jobs (2023) and second Edelknabe in Lohengrin (2023). In Fall 2025 Liesl will perform the role of Mrs. Charlton in Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking.
Known for her comedic roles in musical theater and light opera, Liesl has performed the roles April in Company, Pauline in La Vie Parisienne, Madame Herz in The Impresario, and the titular role in My Fair Galatea. In Spring 2019, Liesl has performed the role of Bianca and the voice of The Dawn with Island City Opera in their production of La Rondine. In addition, she played Lisette with Pocket Opera's production of La Rondine, where “Her stage ease communicated wit and salt, and so did her rich and expansive voice." - Operawire. In the role of Carolina in Cimarosa's The Secret Marriage with Pocket Opera, she was praised by San Francisco Classical Voice for her “brilliant top notes and winning comic chops.” Liesl often performs with the school and community outreach programs at Livermore Valley Opera, playing condensed versions of Serpina in La Serva Padrona, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute and Adina in Elixir of Love. Liesl made her chorus debut at San Francisco Opera in their production of Fidelio in October 2021. She earned her Bachelor of Music at San Francisco State University, and Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. In addition to her work in music, Liesl is also has completed certificates for teaching vinyasa, hatha, and yin yoga. Liesl has holds a Certificate in German Language from Diablo Valley College and studied German at ActiLingua Academy, Vienna. Liesl is a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists.