In the 23/24 season, soprano Nicole Heinen made her company and role debut with Pensacola Opera as Despina (Così fan tutte), Adele (Die Fledermaus) and covered the titular role of Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor). Ms. Heinen also made her Pensacola Choral Society debut as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah. During the 22/23 season Ms. Heinen made her debut with New Orleans Opera as the Dew Fairy (Hansel & Gretel), returned to Florentine Opera for a role debut as Despina (Così fan tutte) and made her Chautauqua Opera debut as Henrietta M. (The Mother of Us All) and covered Mukhtar Mai (Thumbprint).
Ms. Heinen won Mary Ellen Clancy Memorial Award (MIOpera Competition), the Wisconsin District (MET Laffont Competition) and 4th place in the Mary Jacob Singer of the Year Competition. She was a finalist in the John Alexander Vocal Competition and Handel Aria Competition, semi-finalist in the Premiere Opera Foundation Competition and the Orpheus Vocal Competition.