Contralto Sharmay Musacchio earns critical acclaim for her "rare and extraordinary contralto voice, who pulls out all the stops in terms of range and color" (DC Metro Theater Arts), for her work spanning both the dramatic repertoire and contemporary opera. Among many new music engagements, she notably originated the role of Iphigenia the Elder in the world premiere of ...(Iphigenia) by Wayne Shorter and esperanza spalding (The Kennedy Center), developed the role of Swift in Ruinous Gods by Layale Chaker and Lisa Schlesinger for The Spoleto Festival, USA, covered Mona in the world premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s Woman with Eyes Closed at Pittsburgh Opera, covered Rita and Serena Joy in the west coast premiere of The Handmaid’s Tale with San Francisco Opera, debuted as The Auntie in The Scarlet Ibis in its Chicago premiere with Chicago Opera Theater, and debuted as Sotopenre in the U.S. premiere of Akhnaten at Los Angeles Opera.

 

2025 engagements included developing the characters of Ash and Wash Woman in Enheduanna (composed by Layale Chaker with libretto by Lisa Schlesinger) in workshop at Baryshnikov Arts Center, and returning as Alto soloist in Messiah with Opera Laguna. In 2026, Sharmay debuts the role of Orange Snapping Turtle in Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote, composed by Anthony Davis and co-produced by Bodhi Tree Concerts, set to premiere in San Diego/Tijuana. She then debuts the role of Cecilia March in Mark Adamo’s Little Women with SDSU Opera Theater. Sharmay is thrilled to return to the role of Iphigenia the Elder in ...(Iphigenia) with esperanza spalding and Maestro Clark Rundell in Wroclaw, Poland with the NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic in November of 2026.

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Sharmay has performed as a soloist with The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, LA Opera, The Kennedy Center, The Spoleto Festival U.S.A., Arts Emerson, Mass MoCA, The Broad Stage, Cal Performances, Chicago Opera Theater, Winter Opera St. Louis, Fresno Grand Opera, Townsend Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Sarasota Opera, Opera Southwest; and has been a featured artist with Carnegie Hall, Peninsula Symphony, On Site Opera, Mid America Productions, New England Symphonic Ensemble, Opera Laguna, Portland Opera/IVAI and Bodhi Tree Concerts. Her recent concert work includes performances as Alto Soloist with Opera Laguna in their production of Handel’s Messiah, Alto Soloist with the Peninsula Symphony in their production of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Alto Soloist with the Masterworks Chorale in their production of Verdi’s Requiem, Alto Soloist with Mid-American Productions at Carnegie Hall in their production of Vivaldi’s Gloria. 

Sharmay has worked with renowned conductors including Clark Rundell, Geoffrey McDonald, Matthew Aucoin, David Hanlon, Kyle Naig, Jayce Ogren, James Conlon, Placido Domingo, Victor DeRenzi and Martin Wright. She has collaborated with directors including Lileana Blain Cruz, Maya Zbib, Phelim McDermott, Laine Rettmer, Julie Taymor, Josh Shaw and Sam Buntrock. 

Sharmay was on the Artist Roster at The Metropolitan Opera for four years and covered the roles of La Novizia in Suor Angelica, The Maid in Manon, and Sotopenre in Akhnaten; she made her Met debut in 2018. She  has been in over 10 productions with LA Opera, including The West Coast Premiere of Philip Glass’ and Phelim McDermott’s Akhnaten, Giovanna in Rigoletto, La Voix in The Tales of Hoffmann, Frasquita in El Gato Montes, a Maiden of Mahagonny in The Rise and Fall of The City of Mahagonny (winner of two Grammy Awards) and covering the roles of Herodias in Salome and Nefertiti in Akhnaten. Sharmay made her NYCO debut as Mrs. Grose in their new production of The Turn of the Screw and went on to sing La vecchia in L’amore de Tre Rei. She holds a M.M. from San Francisco Conservatory of Music and teaches Applied Voice at Moorpark College of Music.