Iranian American soprano Marlina Karimi is a lyric soprano whose musical journey began as a clarinetist, bringing a lifelong foundation in musicianship to her work on the operatic stage. A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, she is recognized for her rich, resonant sound, dramatic intensity, and thoughtful character portrayals, bringing both vulnerability and strength to a repertoire spanning bel canto, Verdi, Puccini, French opera, and contemporary works. Karimi credits her early professional experiences as an ensemble member with Opera Naples, appearing in productions of Aida, Carmen, La Bohème, and Trial by Jury, as instrumental in shaping her artistic path. Since then, she has continued to build a diverse career through young artist programs, apprenticeships, and performances throughout the United States and abroad.

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In September 2026, Karimi makes her New York Opera Forum debut as Norina in a concert performance of Donizetti's Don Pasquale. She recently completed her second consecutive season with the Opera Festival of Chicago, appearing in the ensembles of La Bohème and Adriana Lecouvreur during the company's 2026 season. Previously, she was a member of Opera Festival of Chicago's Young Artist Program, performing in productions of I Pagliacci and Montemezzi's L'amore dei tre re.

 

In 2024, Karimi joined Sarasota Opera as an Apprentice Artist, performing in the ensembles of Lucia di Lammermoor, Luisa Miller, and Carmen, while covering the role of Laura in Verdi's Luisa Miller. During Sarasota Opera's Apprentice Artist Concerts, she performed scenes from some of opera's most iconic heroines, including Amelia (Un ballo in maschera), Aida (Aida), Antonia (Les contes d'Hoffmann), and Marguerite (Faust).

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Prior to Sarasota Opera, Karimi completed advanced vocal studies at DePaul University School of Music, where she performed Lady Billows in Britten's Albert Herring and appeared as a featured soloist with orchestra in Puccini's celebrated aria "Un bel dì" from Madama Butterfly. Internationally, she was awarded Third Prize in the Meistersinger Competition while attending the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) Opera Studio in Graz, Austria, earning recognition for her performance of Bellini's "O quante volte" from I Capuleti e i Montecchi.

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Karimi made her operatic role debut as Suzel in Mascagni's L'Amico Fritz while completing her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Youngstown State University. Recent honors include 5th Prize in the Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition, recognition from the AIMS Meistersinger Competition, and awards from the Sinfonietta Bel Canto Voice Competition and the St. Petersburg Opera Guild Vocal Competition. An advocate for continual artistic growth, she recently participated in Jennifer Rowley's Aria Bootcamp and continues to expand her repertoire through ongoing study, performance, and collaboration. Fluent in English and Spanish, with additional study in Italian, German, and French, Karimi brings both linguistic and musical versatility to her work on stage.