She won the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition in 1985 and is best known for her performances in major opera productions.
[3] Esperian attended Barrington High School,[2] where her choral director suggested she pursue voice in college.
In 2004 and 2005 Esperian sang Cio-Cio-san with the Metropolitan Opera of New York in the fall and winter season's performances of Madama Butterfly.
In 2007, Kallen recorded a CD of rock and jazz classics, which includes a cover of "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin.
Esperian has sung at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as Desdemona in Otello and Amelia in Simon Boccanegra.
Esperian joined the Opera Orchestra of New York as Desdemona at Carnegie Hall for Carlo Bergonzi's first assumption of the role of Otello at age 75.
Although she always loved to sing, and sang in her school's choruses, she did not begin private voice lessons until after turning sixteen.
She attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, where she earned her bachelor of music degree in vocal performance.