American soprano Karen Coker Merritt began her professional operatic career as an apprentice with Pittsburgh Opera, and made her operatic debut with Baltimore Opera in 2003.  International engagements have included a tour of England with Opera North of the UK's production of Kurt Weill's One Touch of Venus, starring as Venus.   She reprised this role at the Ravenna Festival in Italy, as well as at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London.  She has made numerous other concert and opera performances.