Soprano, Caroline Nelms grew up studying piano and voice in Irvine, California where she developed her love for music from her mother and grandmother, both professional pianists. She spent much of her childhood involved in music at Tustin Presbyterian Church which had a strong classical focus for its worship services. Caroline went on to receive a music scholarship at Pepperdine University where she studied voice with New York City Opera Tenor, Henry Price. Dr. Price instilled in her a passion for opera and Caroline then went on to receive her Master’s degree in vocal performance from UCLA, studying with Juliana Gondek. During her college years Caroline coached with Dale Fundling of the Mozarteum in Salzburg and with William Vendice at UCLA and LA Opera. Upon graduation, Caroline made her way down the coast singing with musical theater and opera companies from Los Angeles to San Diego, in addition to performing jazz standards and favorites from the Great American songbook throughout Southern California.
In addition to singing with the choruses of LA Opera, Opera Pacific and San Diego Opera, Caroline’s past professional operatic roles include: Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel) and Gianetta (The Gondoliers) with Lyric Opera San Diego, Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) with Inland Valley Opera, Mabel (Pirates of Penzance) and Angelina (Trial by Jury) with Bodhi Tree Concerts, Gilda (Rigoletto), Frasquita (Carmen), Violetta (La Traviata), Inez (Il Trovatore), Juliette (Romeo et Juliette) and Adele (Die Fledermaus) with Pacific Lyric Association ,The Handmaiden (Turandot) with San Diego Opera and Titania (The Fairy Queen) & Pamina (The Magic Flute) with Lyric Opera of Orange County. Some of Caroline’s professional musical theater credits include Anne Egerman (A Little Night Music) with Lyric Opera San Diego, Laurey (Oklahoma) and Christine (Phantom) with Fine Arts Network, Temecula, and Fantine (Les Miserables), Winifred Banks (Mary Poppins) and "Madame de la Grand Bouche" (Beauty and the Beast) at Pechanga Theater with Theatre Royale.
Caroline’s solo orchestral concert repertoire include Bach’s Psalm 51 with the Cabrillo Chamber Orchestra, Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s Mass in C and Choral Fantasy, Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore, the Brahms Requiem, Bach Magnificat and Alec Roth's "A Time to Dance" with the Center Chorale in Escondido, Faure and Rutter Requiems with the San Luis Rey Chorale, Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio and Gounod's St. Cecilia Mass with the San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra and Carmina Burana with the City Ballet of San Diego, Orchestra and Chorus. Caroline is also a soloist with the Southern California Philharmonic, Temecula Valley, Poway and Coachella Valley Symphonies. She is a two time Inland Valley Theatre League award winner and has been featured on several film soundtracks and a Target commercial.
In addition to singing with the choruses of LA Opera, Opera Pacific and San Diego Opera, Caroline’s past professional operatic roles include: Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel) and Gianetta (The Gondoliers) with Lyric Opera San Diego, Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) with Inland Valley Opera, Mabel (Pirates of Penzance) and Angelina (Trial by Jury) with Bodhi Tree Concerts, Gilda (Rigoletto), Frasquita (Carmen), Violetta (La Traviata), Inez (Il Trovatore), Juliette (Romeo et Juliette) and Adele (Die Fledermaus) with Pacific Lyric Association ,The Handmaiden (Turandot) with San Diego Opera and Titania (The Fairy Queen) & Pamina (The Magic Flute) with Lyric Opera of Orange County. Some of Caroline’s professional musical theater credits include Anne Egerman (A Little Night Music) with Lyric Opera San Diego, Laurey (Oklahoma) and Christine (Phantom) with Fine Arts Network, Temecula, and Fantine (Les Miserables), Winifred Banks (Mary Poppins) and "Madame de la Grand Bouche" (Beauty and the Beast) at Pechanga Theater with Theatre Royale.
Caroline’s solo orchestral concert repertoire include Bach’s Psalm 51 with the Cabrillo Chamber Orchestra, Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s Mass in C and Choral Fantasy, Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore, the Brahms Requiem, Bach Magnificat and Alec Roth's "A Time to Dance" with the Center Chorale in Escondido, Faure and Rutter Requiems with the San Luis Rey Chorale, Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio and Gounod's St. Cecilia Mass with the San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra and Carmina Burana with the City Ballet of San Diego, Orchestra and Chorus. Caroline is also a soloist with the Southern California Philharmonic, Temecula Valley, Poway and Coachella Valley Symphonies. She is a two time Inland Valley Theatre League award winner and has been featured on several film soundtracks and a Target commercial.
