Michèle Crider, born in 1959 in Quincy, Illinois, is an American operatic soprano whose career began with studies at Culver‑Stockton College and a master’s in vocal performance from the University of Iowa, where she debuted as Madama Butterfly and attracted the attention of alumnus Simon Estes. After winning the District Metropolitan Opera Auditions twice, she studied in Zürich and became a finalist in the 1988 Luciano Pavarotti competition and a laureate of the 1989 Geneva International Music Competition, leading to her debut as Leonora in Il trovatore at Dortmund and subsequent appearances in major European houses. Her recordings include Un ballo in maschera on Teldec, Mefistofele on BMG Classics, Verdi's Requiem in 1996 on Chandos, and Die Walküre on Decca. She has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Vienna State Opera, and La Scala, and has collaborated with conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Daniel Barenboim, and Zubin Mehta. In 2018, she received an honorary Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Iowa. As of 2025, she remained an active performer, including an appearance at the First Union Congregational Church in Quincy, Illinois, as part of the Quincy Civic Music Association’s 2025-2026 concert season.
