Monica Yunus Competition. In 2001, Yunus sang the role of Nanetta in "Falstaff" in her debut with Amato Opera. In the 2002–2003 season, Yunus made her debut with Nashville Opera as Gretel in Engelbert Humperdinck's "Hänsel und Gretel", her debut with Virginia Opera as Oscar in "Un ballo in maschera", and performed the role of Walter in "La Wally" at Alice Tully Hall with Teatro Grattacielo. She also performed the roles of Servilia in Mozart's "La clemenza di Tito" and Polly in "Die Dreigroschenoper" with Pittsburgh Opera as part of her internship there. Yunus was also awarded a career grant from the
The New Opera Theatre to found Opera Quotannis, in New York. The New Opera Theatre The New Opera Theatre was a New Orleans-based opera company founded in 1986, with conductor Louise LaBruyère as Music Director and stage director Brian Morgan serving as Artistic Director. It specialized in experimental productions of both ancient and contemporary opera. The ensemble's first production was in April 1987, the world-premiere of Morgan's post-minimalist opera, "s" ("a concerto for stage director"), with Phyllis Treigle as E, and LaBruyère conducting. This was followed later the same year by "Hänsel und Gretel", with identical-twins Libbye and Cyril Hellier in the title roles.