Fran Bjorneby Kraemer Mezzo-Soprano

Fran Bjorneby Kraemer (Santuzza), is delighted to be returning to Center Stage Opera where she has most recently been seen as Laura in La Gioconda, Azucena in Il Trovatore and Santuzza in a previous production of Cavalleria Rusticana . Ms. Kraemer's many other opera roles include Amneris in Aida, Leonora in La Favorita, Cornelia in Giulio Cesare, Giocasta in Edipo Re, Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Berta in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Schwertleite in Die Walküre, Mrs. Peachum in The Beggar's Opera, Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore and the title role in Carmen.

Musical theatre credits include Jenny Lind in Barnum, Lola in Damn Yankees and the Mother Abbess in The Sound of
Music.   An outstanding concert soloist, Fran has appeared in such works as Verdi's Requiem, Bach's Mass in B Minor, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Mozart's Great Mass in C Minor and Coronation Mass and Händel's Messiah. Ms. Kraemer has performed with San Diego Opera, The Atlanta Opera, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Comic Opera, Opera Burgas Philharmonie in Bulgaria, Filharmonie Hrádec Králove in Czech Republic, Concert Opera Philadelphia, New Jersey Concert Opera, Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, Amici Opera, Vox Ama Deus Ensemble, Opera Company of Brooklyn, Capitol Opera of Harrisburg, Center City Opera Philadelphia, The Savoy Company of Philadelphia and
Wagner Opera Theater of New York. Twice a winner in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in the San Diego District, Ms. Kraemer has also received the La Jolla Young Artists Award and a Musical Merit Foundation Award. Upcoming performances include Amastre in Serse, Frugola in Il Tabarro and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana.

When not on stage, Ms. Kraemer has enjoyed serving as Director of Music at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA, and teaching voice and piano lessons at her
private studio and at two universities in California. Fran currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband and Siamese cat, Sushi.