Melissa Shippen Burrows has made operatic and symphonic debuts in her career throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. The soprano was heard on her first official recording release Belle Nuit while in concert in Munich with Vesselina Kasarova. She has been heard onstage in leading roles such as Mimi in La Boheme (Wolf-Trap and Aspen Opera),  Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Nedda in Pagliacci with Connecticut Concert Opera, and Micaela in Carmen with The Atlanta Opera. Critics have described Melissa as: 'a dramatic soprano with an attractive, powerful sound' (Britten War Requiem at Carnegie Hall, The New York Times), 'angelic' by the The Washington Post), and according to The Rutland Herland of her Thais with Opera Company of Middlebury, "Shippen imbued her dramatic voice with emotion, from tender to passionate to reverent beautifully, naturally and convincingly.”  Melissa has won top prizes at several voice competitions worldwide including: Vokal Genial International Voice Competition in Munich, Opera Birmingham, Orpheus, Palm Beach Opera, DiPanni Bel Canto Opera, and was named a District Winner and Regional Finalist of the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera Competition.  As a United States Presidential Scholar and NFAA Arts Grand Prize Winner at the age of 17, she sang in concert at the Kennedy Center and White House for U.S. President Clinton.  She received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance from The Juilliard School and was a member of the prestigious Juilliard Opera Center.