Elizabeth Herlitz Cortés is a soprano, arts leader, and passionate advocate for opera’s future. With a career spanning performances in Puccini, Verdi, and Mozart, as well as contemporary and Spanish-language repertoire, she brings dramatic intensity and vocal artistry to the stage. Offstage, she is a driving force in arts administration, having led major fundraising initiatives and community engagement programs that expand opera’s reach. Whether performing Tosca or developing new opportunities for artists, she is dedicated to ensuring opera remains vibrant and accessible for generations to come.
Soprano | Opera Leader | Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE)
Elizabeth Herlitz Cortés has always believed in the power of opera—not just as an art form, but as a force that builds communities, tells compelling stories, and shapes the future of the industry.
As a soprano, she has taken on some of opera’s most dramatic, expressive, and vocally demanding roles, performing Tosca, Aida, Susannah, and Donna Elvira with a deep commitment to storytelling and musical integrity. In 2025, she will reprise Tosca in a gala performance with Tulsa Opera Orchestra and Spotlight on Opera at Tulsa Opera.
Elizabeth’s repertoire spans Puccini, Verdi, Mozart, Strauss, and contemporary opera, with a special passion for Spanish-language works such as Daniel Catán’s La hija de Rappaccini and Héctor Armienta’s Los coyotes y las conejas. She is a sought-after concert soloist, having performed with the Puccini Society of Tulsa, Hallettsville Cultural Society, and numerous festival and symphony concerts.
But her impact extends far beyond the stage.
A Career in Opera—On Both Sides of the Table
Alongside her performance career, Elizabeth is a recognized leader in opera development, marketing, and administration, specializing in corporate sponsorships, major gifts, and board development. She understands what it takes to sustain and grow an opera company in today’s world—because she’s done it herself.
As Director of Development and Administration for Spotlight on Opera at Tulsa Opera, she is leading the program’s growth into a national young artist training ground, creating new pathways for emerging singers. In August 2024, Country Roads Magazine published an article titled "More Opera!", introducing her as the new Interim Director of Development and Community Engagement at Opéra Louisiane. Previously, as Interim Director of Development at Opera Louisiane, she secured $190,000 in grant funding in just four months and increased the company’s overall budget by 10% in a single season.
Her passion for expanding opera’s reach also led her to found the Texas Concert Opera Collective (TCOC), which has provided high-quality, free performances to nearly 2,000 students across Texas while creating new opportunities for professional singers.
Whether she’s on stage delivering a searing performance of Verdi and Puccini heroines or behind the scenes securing funding to ensure opera’s future, Elizabeth Herlitz Cortés is dedicated to the belief that opera should thrive, evolve, and inspire for generations to come.
Education & Training
Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE)
Master of Music in Vocal Performance – Bowling Green State University
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance – Louisiana State University
Apprenticeship – Toledo Opera
Studies with Melody Moore, Francesco Milioto, Enrique Carreón-Robledo, Douglas K. Frost