Diane Rae Schoff, Mezzo-Soprano (Serena Joy in The Handmaid’s Tale), is a regular character on stages around the US. In 2022 she returned to Opera Grand Rapids as one of her very favorite characters, Ruth, in their Pirates of Penzance. Ms. Schoff performed with the newly named Detroit Opera(formerly Michigan Opera Theater) for their 21/22 season in their revival of their Original production of “Frida” and in “Bliss” at the historic Michigan Building Parking Garage, where singers and instrumentalists played and sang the same glorious 3 minutes of music from the end of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” for 12 hours. In 2020 Ms.Schoff was honored to join Detroit Opera for her role debut of Zita in their production of ‘Gianni Schicci.’ During her time in Michigan, having found an artistic home at Detroit Opera, Ms Schoff has performed many roles including, the 2nd maid in ‘Elektra’, Natalia Trotsky in ‘Frida’, The 2nd Lady in ‘Die Zauberflote’ and Aunt Cecilia in ‘Little Women’.. Recent performances in surrounding areas inclu joining Opera Grand Rapids as Katisha in their production of ‘The Mikado’ and Toledo Opera as the 3rd Lady in ‘The Magic Flute’ and the Old Baroness in ‘Vanessa’. Ms Schoff received high praise for her company and role debut with Opera Carolina as Marcellina in their 2017 production of ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’. Opera News said “It would be hard to imagine a better portrayal of Marcellina, both physically and vocally than that of Diane Schoff.” Opera Carolina has hosted Ms.Schoff on many occasions delighting audiences with her “look that could drop a horse at 50 feet” (Toledo Blade) as The Duchess of Crackenthorpe in ‘La Fille du Regiment’ and as Mme Larina in ‘Eugene Onegin.’ Ms Schoff can often be heard and seen in the Opera in the Parks with Detroit Opera’s outreach concerts and at Spirit Plaza. An avid performer of concert, oratorio, and classical works with orchestra, she recently debuted with Orchestra Sono as the alto soloist in Haydn’s Lord Nelson mass and the Schubert mass in G. Diane holds the honor of being a National Semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera Competition, and is a graduate of the world renowned San Francisco Opera’s Merola apprentice program.