The company's general director, Speight Jenkins, said, "Jane has a marvelous ability to listen to a singer and pinpoint what that singer needs to excel. She can express her opinion in a very few words. If the singer doesn't seem immediately to understand, she can explain her ideas until they are completely clear. I have seen this process work in a very short time: the singer, after working with Jane, sounds different and better."

Seattle Opera's Young Artists program was founded in 1998 under the leadership of Jenkins, education director Perry Lorenzo and conductor Dean Williamson. Each year, twelve singers, mostly recent conservatory graduates, are selected from national auditions to participate.

A Seattle resident, the English-born Eaglen is renowned for her interpretations of Bellini's Norma, Wagner's Br‹nnhilde and Isolde and Puccini's Turandot.

She has appeared frequently at Seattle Opera (where she sang Br‹nnhilde in the 2001 and 2005 Ring cycles), and also performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera Covent Garden and Paris Opera, among others.