Michelle is in demand as an opera performer, known for her commanding musicianship mixed with compelling acting. Recent stage appearances include the roles of Eva Castellanos in the world premier of Jesse J. Sanchez’s The Crownmaker with Portland Opera, Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte with Opera Seme (Arezzo, Italy), First Lady (Cover) in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with Undead Arts and the New Jersey Symphony, La Contessa in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro with both the Music On Site Festival (Wichita, Kansas) and Arizona State University, Alcina in Handel’s Alcina with Opera Seme, Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors with both Arizona Lyric Opera and the Music on Site Festival. During her time at Arizona State University, Michelle performed a number of leading roles including La Musica (L’Orfeo, Monteverdi), Pauline Viardot (Notes on Viardot, Michael Ching, Arizona premier), Anne Truelove (The Rake's Progress, Stravinsky), Marie (La fille du régiment, Donizetti) Enyo (We’ve Got Our Eye On You, Nkeiru Okoye) and Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel, Humperdinck). Michelle will be returning to Portland to perform the role of Eva Castellano on tour and on the mainstage.

Michelle is a sought-after oratorio soloist and musical collaborator. Recently she was the soprano soloist for the world premier of David Schildkret’s Requiem for the Innocent with choir and orchestra in Tempe, Arizona. Michelle performed Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the ASU Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the 2023 Concerto Competition. She has performed as soloist on major works for orchestra and choir, including Fauré’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Kleine Orgelmesse, and the Lord Nelson Mass, Mozart’s Requiem, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, both Poulenc and Vivaldi’s Gloria, Ariel Ramirez’s Misa Criolla, Philip Glass’s Songs from Liquid Days, and Vaughn Williams’ Serenade to Music, among others. She was in a trio of singers who participated in the world premier of a piano and vocal arrangement of Wynton Marsalis’ The Ever Fonky Lowdown. She has sung professionally with choral ensembles including the Phoenix Chorale, Orpheus Chamber Singers, Tactus, the Fort Worth Chorale, The Choral Pickup, Dallas Choral Artists, St. Matthew’s Cathedral Artists, and Vox Humana. She is a noted interpreter of art song and has performed solo recitals in venues across the United States. This December she will appear as the soprano soloist in the Messiah with Allentown Camerata.

Michelle is an award-winning performer. She was the winner of the Barbara Long Opera Award, the Warren Hoffer Art Song Competition, and the 2023 Concerto Competition at Arizona State University. She was awarded the second-place prize in the NATSAA competition in both 2023 and 2025. She was an Artist Division Finalist in the National Opera Association’s annual Carolyn Bailey Argento Vocal Competition and was a Hauptfinalist in the MeisterSinger Competition with the AIMS program in Graz, Austria.

Michelle is a multi-faceted artist and educator able to move comfortably through a wide variety of genres. As Artist-in-Residence at the Mirabella retirement community from 2023-25, she programmed and performed weekly recitals, conducted the community chorus, and coordinated Broadway and Opera cabaret shows. Michelle’s love for a diverse range of repertoire is evident in her community-oriented concerts, which feature musical theater, folk rock, pop, jazz, and traditional Latin genres. Michelle’s upbringing within the Mexican-American musical communities of the Rio Grande Valley has played a defining role in her artistic life. She participated in her first Mariachi Cobre Extravaganza at the age of 10, and was a member of one of the historic first 28 Texas All-Region Mariachi ensembles in high school. As an ensemble leader and an accomplished violinist, she was respected as a mariachi clinician for violin and voice across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and assisted with the University of North Texas Mariachi Aguilitas Summer Camps.

Michelle is a passionate educator in choral music and vocal pedagogy, dedicated to helping students discover the freedom of knowing and confidently using their own voices, develop solid musicianship as a foundation for lifelong artistry, and encourage them to boldly reach for their musical aspirations. Michelle served for five years as Associate Director of Choral Activities in Texas at Mesquite High School, where her choirs consistently received Sweepstakes awards at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest. Her students regularly earned placement in Texas All-Region and All-State choirs and Superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble contests. Her teaching is marked by her commitment to cultivating vocal excellence through a disciplined, warm, and insightful approach. She holds Kodály Choral Track Certification (Levels I–III) and has directed choirs at the high school, middle school, and senior adult levels. Michelle also served in leadership roles with the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) as Region III Vocal Chair and Chair-Elect, supporting music education initiatives across multiple districts. Michelle taught voice at the collegiate level for two years as Teaching Assistant at Arizona State University, where she led group and individual lessons involving a wide range of styles, including classical, musical theatre, pop, and jazz, successfully preparing students for auditions and contests. Michelle is a lifelong advocate for creating inclusive and engaging learning environments that span generational and cultural backgrounds, where all students can thrive as confident, skilled performers.