Brooklyn, New York native soprano Cherisse Williams is a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Business Administration in Music Business student at the University of North Texas under the tutelage of Dr. Carol Wilson. In performance with The Dallas Opera’s Educational Outreach, she will perform the role of Manuelita (Pépito). Last season Ms. Williams sang the role of Micaëla (Carmen). She has played the role of Adina in L’elisir d’amore with UNT Opera, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute and Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) with Once Upon an Opera, Nannetta in the Midwest Institute of Opera’s production of Falstaff. Her Manhattan School of Music credits include the Princess in their mainstage production of L’enfant et les Sortilèges and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro for their opera scenes titled "A World Made Real: Five Stories of Women in Pursuit of Dreams." Other credits include the role of Sally Hemings in the world premiere of Dana Wilson's The Wolf by the Ears, Beth (cover) in Little Women, Mademoiselle Silberklang in The Impresario with the Ithaca Hidden Gems Project, The Princeton Festival’s production of Porgy and Bess (ensemble) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peaseblossom) at Westminster Choir College Opera Theatre.

      Ms. Williams was a winner of the Willam Gammon Henry Concerto Competition at the University of North Texas and a first-prize winner at the NATS-CNYFL competition. She is a member of the New York Philharmonic Chorus and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College, a Master of Music from Ithaca College, and a Professional Studies Certificate in opera from The Manhattan School of Music.  She is  a volunteer artist for Sing for Hope, a proud sister of Sigma Alpha Iota and one of the owners of the Sparkle Twins. In addition to singing, Ms. Williams is a professional commercial and print model, and a former preschool teacher. She has starred in the national Verizon Holiday commercial along with her identical twin sister. Which received over 2 million views worldwide.