At just the age of 36, Sonya Yoncheva has risen quickly to the peak of the opera world. Born on Christmas day in 1981, the soprano is already a household name in opera circles and is just days away from what might be her most essential Metropolitan Opera assignment.

The soprano was born in Bulgaria and is said to have worked from the age of six. She would go to music school and in her teenage years wound up hosting Bulgarian television. From there she would build up an opera career that is one of the great accomplishments of modern-day opera.

Here is a look at the still burgeoning soprano’s greatest career highlights.

Operalia Winner

In 2010, Yoncheva took home the top prize in the famed Operalia Competition, cementing herself as a major star in the opera world. Many singers are not able to build off such a success, but Yoncheva did just that.

First Album

The soprano was featured on a number of Virgin Classics albums, but really came into her own when she signed with Sony Classical and released her first album “Paris mon amour” in 2015. Since then, she has released a “Handel” album, in addition to a few DVDs. Next year she will showcase her talents in the work of “Verdi,” her third solo album for Sony.

Metropolitan Opera Debut

Yoncheva has dominated the opera scene internationally but some of her finest moments have come at the Metropolitan Opera. She actually made her debut before it was scheduled, stepping in as Gilda in 2013. That was followed up by a successful showcase in “La Bohème” and an even more prominent opening night in 2016 as Desdemona in “Otello.”

As of the writing of this article she will be appearing in the New Years Eve gala to premiere a new production of “Tosca,” arguably the biggest assignment of her career to date.

Artist of the Year

Yoncheva is already on the radar for a ton of awards, taking home Medici.tv’s 2017 Artist of the Year Award and slated to walk away with an Opera News Award this Spring.