Born in
Chicago,
Illinois, Brugger earned a
Bachelor of Music degree in 2005 from
DePaul University in Chicago, which she attended through scholarships provided by the
National Society of Collegiate Scholars. That same year, she won first place in the
National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. While attending DePaul, she performed roles in several student opera productions, including Dido in
Dido and Aeneas, Ilia in
Idomeneo, and Mercedes in
Carmen. She later studied voice with
Shirley Verrett at the
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, earning a master's degree in vocal performance in 2009. That same year, she pursued further studies at the
Chautauqua Institution with
Marlena Malas and appeared as a soloist with the
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under conductor
Raymond Leppard. In 2008, Brugger won a position in "The Song Continues" masterclass at
Carnegie Hall, where she worked with
Marilyn Horne. In 2009, she portrayed the role of Adina in
The Elixir of Love for the
Lyric Opera of Chicago's “Opera in the Neighborhoods” program. In 2010, Brugger became a member of the
San Francisco Opera's
Merola Opera Program. From 2010 to 2012, Brugger was a member of the Young Artist Program at the
Los Angeles Opera (LAO). She made her debut with the LAO as Barbarina in
The Marriage of Figaro in October 2010. She has since appeared with the LAO as the page in
Rigoletto (2010), Musetta in
La Boheme (2012), and Pamina in
The Magic Flute (2013). ==Career==