Houser has previously performed with Madison Opera as Olympia in “Tales of Hoffmann”, Johanna in “Sweeney Todd”, Anne Egerman in “A Little Night Music” and Amy in “Little Women” by Adamo.

At the end of 2019, she had just finished a run as Queen of the Night in Dallas when she was called up to fill the role in LA. This led to a whirlwind invitation from the Met to fill there as well in January 2020.

Houser headed for New York. But until the lights came on with her in costume, she said, “I had never sung with the Met Orchestra. In fact, I had never walked on the Met stage and seen the whole audience view until this first aria.

The youngest of three daughters, Houser grew up in a musical family in Stoughton, where she started playing the piano at the age of 4. In high school, she participated in all the bands and activities she could, she said, and was inspired by the choir director. John Beutel to start teaching music.

She attended Lawrence University in Appleton, then taught for a year before moving to New York. There she made a bond that brought her back to the University of Nebraska to gain more stage experience. After graduating from her masters, she felt ready to embark on a full-time singing career.