Meet the Student: Q&A with Soprano Jeysla Rosario Santos

Soprano Jeysla Rosario Santos, from Loiza, Puerto Rico, stars as Poppea in the East Coast premiere of Curtis Opera Theatre’s production of George Lewis’ and Claudio Monteverdi’s The Comet / Poppea, November 1, 2, and 3 at Philadelphia’s historic 23rd Street Armory. She entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2024 and studies in the opera program with Julia Faulkner. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Ms. Santos is the Joseph Cairns Jr. and Ernestine Bacon Cairns Memorial Fellow.

What sparked your interest in and passion for pursuing a career in opera and classical music?
I come from a long line of teachers and individuals in the medical field, so growing up, I never thought singing could be my career. But I’ve always been drawn to the arts—music and theater, in particular. I sang in church and choirs throughout middle school and high school, but it wasn’t until the summer midway through my undergrad that I truly understood the power of opera and classical music. That summer, I worked for the Schmidt Vocal Institute and met an inspiring group of talented young musicians who were deeply passionate about this art form. Being around them and watching them express themselves through classical music made me want to understand it more and become part of this “opera family.” Since then, I’ve never looked back. Opera has become a way for me to connect with people through the power of music and storytelling, and I’ve been passionate about it ever since.

What have you enjoyed the most about learning the title role of Poppea and what excites you the most about being a part of the East Coast premiere of this exciting new work?

Learning the role of Poppea has been such a fun and fascinating experience because I’ve never portrayed anyone quite like her. She’s such a complex character, filled with ambition, cunning, and love, and it’s been incredible to peel back those layers and explore them through Monteverdi’s music. Being part of the East Coast premiere of The Comet / Poppea is extremely exciting. The two operas—Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea and George Lewis’ The Comet—are written over 300 years apart, yet they’re being performed side by side on a rotating stage. It’s such a unique and innovative concept, and I hope the audience is as captivated by the interplay between these two works as I am.

When did you first hear about Curtis, and what are you looking forward to during your time here at the school?
I first heard about Curtis while pursuing my undergraduate degrees. At the time, it seemed like a distant dream—you hear about the school’s reputation for producing some of the finest musicians in the world, but it’s hard to imagine yourself there. When I auditioned, I was immediately drawn to the school’s commitment to artistic excellence and its emphasis on learning by doing. Now that I’m blessed enough to be here, I’m most excited about being surrounded by inspiring peers and mentors who constantly challenge me to become a better artist and musician.

Photo credits: 1 & 2.) Portraits of Ms. Santos by Nichole MCH Photography. 3.) Javon Miller. Q&A by Ryan Scott Lathan.