September 18, 2025
Spotlight on Zoie Reams
Lyric audiences were first introduced to mezzo‑soprano Zoie Reams in the 2018/19 Season as Flora Bervoix in La traviata; since then, she has become a regular on our stage. Born and raised in Chicago, her star has been on the rise nationally, having recently appeared at the Metropolitan Opera, Canadian Opera Company, and Houston Grand Opera, where she participated in the acclaimed Butler Studio program.
Grounded in classical technique, yet fearless in contemporary repertoire and crossover projects, Reams can be seen in two vastly different productions this season. First, she opens our season as Neris in Cherubini’s Greek tragedy, Medea, and returns in November as a soloist in the world premiere of A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness from The Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman, Billy Corgan.
Zoie Reams as Flora in Verdi's La traviata (2018/19).
Reams grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. From an early age, she was drawn to the arts — dancing with Chicago Multicultural Dance Center and performing music with The Happiness Club. As a teenager, she secured a scholarship to attend Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, a boarding school in Minnesota where she could hone her craft in their vocal performance program. There, Reams learned music theory and took piano and voice lessons. That foundation set her up for success as she went on to earn her Bachelor of Music at Lawrence University and Master of Music degree from Louisiana State University.
In Lyric’s 2022/23 Season, Reams showed her comedic chops — popping out of windows and catching “nuns” unaware — in Rossini’s Le Comte Ory. Chicago Classical Review said, “Mezzo Zoie Reams was a rich-voiced and imposing presence as Ragonde, Adèle's concierge and factotum.”
Zoie Reams in the Lyric premiere of Rossini's Le Comte Ory (2022/23).
She returned later that season in the world premiere of Proximity, a trio of new American operas from innovative director Yuval Sharon. She appeared in two of the three operas, creating the roles of Chief’s Daughter #2 in The Walkers (Daniel Bernard Roumain/Anna Deveare Smith) and Sibyl in Night (John Luther Adams/John Haines). In The Walkers, Reams stepped outside her comfort zone, learning to rap for the role.
Reams once again did double duty in Lyric’s 2024/25 Season, appearing as the flirtatious Maddalena in Verdi’s Rigoletto, and in the lead role of The Mother in Blue (Jeanine Tesori/Tazewell Thompson).
“Although Tesori’s writing gives her some soaring lines, most compelling is the penetrating directness and honesty of her singing, which brings depth and humanity to The Mother.” — Chicago Sun-Times
“Zoie Reams is deeply moving as The Mother. She has an earthy mezzo sound and marvelous tone. Her wailing cries in the church cannot fail to move you.” — Hyde Park Herald
Zoie Reams in the heartwrenching role of The Mother in Tesori/Thompson's Blue (2024/25).
Reams has been praised for her warm, rounded mezzo and her ability to bring emotional truth to each role — whether it’s a classic operatic heroine or a gripping modern work. Don’t miss your chance to see one of Chicago’s own in two thrilling and varied works. First, she opens the 2025/26 Season in Cherubini's Medea as Neris, the titular character’s closest confidant and unwitting accomplice. Then, in November she performs alongside rock icon Billy Corgan in A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness, bringing The Smashing Pumpkins’ seminal 1995 album to the operatic stage.
