Elaine Ortiz-Arandes , lyric soprano, was born in Puerto Rico and is a graduate of the local Conservatory of Music, where she studied voice with Professor Maria Esther Robles. She became well-known in Puerto Rico through her many song recitals. In addition she recorded contemporary Puerto Rican music, sang with Baroque music ensembles, debuted at the Opera and appeared as a soloist with the Puerto Rican National Symphony Orchestra. In 1984 she won the Metropolitan Opera Competition.
In 1985 she moved to Germany where she was engaged at the opera houses in Krefeld and Mönchengladbach. 1988 she moved to Munich where she was engaged at the State Theater on Gärtnerplatz. There she developed a wide repertory which includes, among others, Gilda, Susanna, Norina, Pamina, Micaela, Maria in West-Side Story and Musetta. She has subsequently made appearances in Austria, France, Holland, the USA and Japan.