Third-year Butler Studio artist Elizabeth Hanje, a Tanzanian-American soprano from Vestavia Hills, Alabama, was the first-place winner at HGO's 2024 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias and is a 2022 alumna of HGO's Young Artist Vocal Academy. In the 2026-27 season, Hanje sings the roles of the Priestess in Aida, Second Lady in The Magic Flute and Family Day The Magic Flute, and a Noble Orphan in Der Rosenkavalier. Previously for HGO, Hanje performed the roles of Strawberry Woman in Porgy and Bess, First Alms Sister in Suor Angelica (Il trittico), Madeleine Audebert in Silent Night, Gertrude in Family Day Hansel and Gretel, and Ines in Il trovatore. In the summer of 2026, she was a part of the Voice Residency at Festival d'Aix-en-Provence. Previously, she has been an Apprentice Singer at The Santa Fe Opera (2025), a Young Artist at Merola Opera Program (2024), and an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera (2023). In 2022, she performed the role of Lyra in Alice Tierney in her debut with Opera Columbus. Hanje is a 2026 National Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Other awards include winner of the 2023 Duncan Williams Voice Competition, winner of the 2022 George Shirley Vocal Competition, the 2021 Richard Miller Award for Fine Singing, and a 2021 YoungArts Award. Hanje holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory.