After leaving the Bavarian State Opera in March 2000, Zukerman returned to the United States and began performing lead opera roles in regional houses across the United States as well as occasionale performances in Europe, including several recitals in Spain with pianists
Brian Zeger and
Mikael Eliasen. In the 2001–2002 season she performed the role of Barbarina in
Mozart's
Le nozze di Figaro with the
Gulbenkian Foundation in
Lisbon under the baton of
Lawrence Foster. She also sang the world premiere of
Libby Larsen's
Notes Slipped Under the Door and made her debut with the
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor
Ivor Bolton with whom she sang the soprano solo in Mozart's
C Minor Mass and the roles of Solomon's Queen and the First Harlot in
Handel's
Solomon. In the 2002–2003 season, Zukerman sang the role of Pamina in Mozart's
The Magic Flute with
Chattanooga Opera, the role of the Governess in
Britten's
The Turn of the Screw with
Chicago Opera Theater, and created the role of Nizza in the world premiere of
Donizetti's long-lost opera
Elisabeth at the
Caramoor Music Festival. She also sang with the
Eos Orchestra in orchestrated and staged
Schubert songs (staged by
Peter Kazaras), made her debut with the
Colorado Symphony singing Handel's
Messiah with
Marin Alsop, and sang
Verdi's
Requiem with the
UC Davis Symphony and the
Cathedral Choral Society in
Washington, D.C. In the 2004–2005 season Zukerman made her debut with
Arizona Opera in the role of Despina in Mozart's
Così fan tutte, her debut with
Cedar Rapids Opera as Susanna in Mozart's
Le nozze di Figaro, and sang the role of Micaela in
Bizet's
Carmen with the
Dallas Symphony Orchestra. She performed with the
American Bach Soloists as the soprano soloist in their production of
Handel's
Messiah, the
Rochester Philharmonic in
Mahler's
Symphony No. 4 , the UC Davis Symphony in
Mahler's Symphony No. 2, the
University Musical Society in
Haydn's
Creation, and performances with
Red, the
Vermeer Quartet, and the
Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra. She also sang at the Savannah Music Festival and a gave a concert of
Bach arias in New York. During the 2005–2006 season Zukerman made her debut with the
New York City Opera in the roles of Tisiphone, Charito, and Aphrodite in
Mark Adamo's
Lysistrata and returned to Chattanooga Opera to perform the role of Euridice in
Gluck's
Orfeo ed Euridice. She also sang Mozart's
Exultate, jubilate with the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and
Jackson Symphony Orchestra, and sang
Haydn's
Creation with the
Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra. She also appeared as a soloist in the holiday concerts presented at the
Kennedy Center by
The Choral Arts Society of Washington. In the summer of 2007 Zukerman made her debut with the
Philadelphia Orchestra as soloist in
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. The performances took place at the
Mann Center in
Philadelphia, at the
Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival with
Rossen Milanov conducting; and at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center with
Charles Dutoit conducting. She also sang Mozart's
Regina Coeli and
Coronation Mass with the
New Hampshire Music Festival. In the 2007–08 season Zukerman performed with
Music of the Baroque, the
Gulbenkian Orchestra in
Lisbon, the
National Philharmonic, the
Long Island Philharmonic, the
Rapides Symphony Orchestra, the
American Classical Orchestra, the
Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and the
National Philharmonic Orchestra. She also performed the role of Musetta in
Puccini's
La bohème in a concert version with the
Philadelphia Orchestra. In addition, she gave a recital of Schumann lieder with pianist
Marc Neikrug and perform with the Miami String Quartet at the
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival in July 2008. Since 2008, Zukerman has been on the voice faculty of the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music of The Catholic University of America. In 2015, she was named Chair of Vocal Studies at the
Wintergreen Summer Music Festival and Academy. ==Personal life==