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Aiste Benkauskaite
Mezzo soprano – Lithuania
2024/25

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2024/25

2024, Opera Recital, Rising Stars, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, A studio version of Gounod’s “Faust”, A Devilish Pact, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, Oratorio Recital, Unto us a Child is born, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2022-23, Mother, Neringa, Tour in Lithuania

2022-23, Austėja, The Tale of the Gifted Heart, Trakai Castle, Lithuania

2022, Mother, 13, Tour in Lithuania

2021, Zita, Gianni Schicchi, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, Lithuania

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2024, Nurzhamal Ussenbayeva Competition, Astana, Finalist and a Special Prize Diploma 

2023, Vincės Jonuškaitės-Zaunienės Competition, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, First place

2023, Tbilisi Opera Crown Competition, Tbilisi, Semifinalist

EDUCATION

2019 - 2023, BA in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy/qualification of teacher

Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater, Lithuania

Charles Buttigieg
Baritone – Malta
2024/25

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2024/25

2024, Opera Recital, Rising Stars, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, A studio version of Gounod’s “Faust”, A Devilish Pact, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, Oratorio Recital, Unto us a Child is born, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2023, Enrico, Lucia di Lammermoor, The Mediterranean Opera Studio, Sicily

2022, Mercutio, Romeo et Juliette,  Opera Naples, Florida

2022, Morales, Carmen, Teatro Astra Gozo, Malta

2019, Figaro, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Curtis Opera , Philadelphia 

2018, Mr. Fogs, Sweeney Todd, Curtis Opera , Philadelphia 

2018, Spirit, Dido and Aeneas, Curtis Opera , Philadelphia 

2018, Masetto, Don Giovanni, Curtis Opera Philadelphia

2017, Marcello, La Bohème, The Mediterranean Opera Studio, Sicily

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2024, Piero Cappuccilli Competition, Ripabottoni, Semifinalist

2024, Operalia Competition, Cape Town, Quarterfinalist

2022, Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, New York, Encouragement Award 

2021, Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, New York, Encouragement, Award

EDUCATION

2018 - 2022, Diploma in Vocal Studies, The Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia

Garrett Evers
Tenor - USA
2024/25
Maria Manetti Shrem Artist

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2024/25

2024, Opera Recital, Rising Stars, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, A studio version of Gounod’s “Faust”, A Devilish Pact, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, Oratorio Recital, Unto us a Child is born, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2024, Gastone, La Traviata, Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe

2024, Spalanzani / Nathanäel, Les contes d’Hoffmann, Palm Beach Opera, West Palm Beach

2023, Mitch, A Streetcar named Desire, Florida State Opera, Florida

2022, Rodolfo, La Bohéme, Bay View Music Festival, Michigan

2021, Tamino, Die Zauberflöte, Florida State Opera, Florida

2020, Bénédict*, Béatrice et Bénédict, Florida State Opera, Florida 

*Covid canceled performances

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2024, Houston Grand Opera Competition of Arias, Houston, Semi-Finalist

EDUCATION

2023 - 2024,  Apprentice Artist Program for Singers, Palm Beach Opera, Palm Beach

2023 - 2024, Apprentice Program for Singers, Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe

2021 - 2023, MM Vocal Performance, Florida State University, Florida

2017 - 2021,  BM Vocal Performance, Florida State University, Florida

Ferdinand Muradyan
Bass – Armenia
2024/25

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2024/25

2024, Opera Recital, Rising Stars, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, A studio version of Gounod’s “Faust”, A Devilish Pact, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, Oratorio Recital, Unto us a Child is born, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2024, Colline, La Bohème, National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Yerevan

2023, Commendatore, Don Giovanni, Yerevan Opera Studio, Yerevan 

2023, Dulcamara, L’elisir d’amore, National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Yerevan

2022, Areg, Ring of Fire, National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Yerevan 

2022, Soloist, Petite Messe Solennelle, Yerevan Opera Studio, Yerevan

2021, Soloist, Requiem, Komitas Music Hall, Yerevan 

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2023, Opera Crown, Tbilisi International Voice Competition, Tbilisi, Finalist 

2023, “ROMANSIADA” Moscow International Competition, Moscow, Third Prize

EDUCATION

2020 - Present Young Artist Opera Program, National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after A.Spendarian, Yerevan 

2021 - 2023, Master of Arts in Performing Arts, Yerevan State Conservatory after Komitas, Yerevan

2017 - 2021, Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts, Yerevan State Conservatory after Komitas, Yerevan

Priya Pariyachart
Soprano - Thailand
2024/25
Reschio Artist

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2024/25

2024, Opera Recital, Rising Stars, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, A studio version of Gounod’s “Faust”, A Devilish Pact, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, Oratorio Recital, Unto us a Child is born, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2024, ICH, C:\title Labyrinth, Kühlergebäude, Staatstheater Augsburg, Germany

2022, Maria, The sound of music, Chomdong Villa, Huahin, Thailand

2020, Valencienne, Die Lustige Witwe, MACM, Mahidol University, Thailand

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2022, 40th International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition 2022, Jurmala, Semifinalist

2022, Neue Stimmen Competition, Güterslöh, Special Award “Talent Development Prize Mascarade Talent Pathway"

2020, 23th Settrade Music Competition - Undergraduate Category, Mahidol University, Thailand, Second Prize and 1-year scholarship at College of Music

EDUCATION

2024, Master’s degree, University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna 

2023, Bachelor’s degree, College of Music, Mahidol University, Thailand

2021 - 2022, Ernst Mach Grants Scholarship, University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna 

2018 - 2021, College of Music, Mahidol University Salaya, Nakhonpratom, Thailand

2015 - 2017, Young Artist Music Voice Performance, College of Music, Mahidol University Salaya, Nakhonpratom, Thailand

Samuele Piccinini
Répétiteur – Italy
2024/25

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2024/25

2024, Opera Recital, Rising Stars, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, A studio version of Gounod’s “Faust”, A Devilish Pact, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, Oratorio Recital, Unto us a Child is born, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

Répétiteur

2024, Alcina, Guildhall School Theatre

2024, The Casserole, Guildhall School Theatre

2023, La bella dormente nel bosco, Guildhall School Theatre

2023, Maria Egiziaca, Guildhall School Theatre

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2023, Margery & Frederick Stephen Wright Eisinger Award at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London

2021, X International Piano Competition "Andrea Baldi", Bologna, First Prize

EDUCATION

2023 - 2024, Répétiteur Course, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London

2021 - 2023, Master’s degree,  Francesco Venezze Conservatoire, Rovigo

2019 - 2021, Piano Short Course, Pinerolo Music Academy, Pinerolo

Peter Smith
Répétiteur – USA
2024/25

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2024/25

2024, Opera Recital, Rising Stars, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, A studio version of Gounod’s “Faust”, A Devilish Pact, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, Oratorio Recital, Unto us a Child is born, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

Répétiteur:

2024, Tosca (excerpts), University of Michigan, Michigan

2023, Orphée aux enfers, University of Michigan, Michigan

2023, Die Zauberflöte, Berlin Opera Academy, Berlin

2023, Ariadne auf Naxos (excerpts), University of Michigan, Michigan

2023, Rigoletto (excerpts), University of Michigan, Michigan

2023, Le nozze di Figaro (excerpts), University of Michigan, Michigan

2022, Les pêcheurs de perles (excerpts), University of Michigan, Michigan

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2019, Music Teachers National Association Competition, North Carolina Division, Winner

2019, Rosen Schaffel Concerto Competition, North Carolina, Finalist

2019, University of North Carolina School of the Arts Concerto Competition, Watson Hall, Winner

EDUCATION

2022-2024, MM Collaborative Piano, University of Michigan, Michigan

2020-2022, MM Piano Performance & Piano Chamber Music, University of Michigan, Michigan

2016-2020, BM Piano Performance, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Michigan

Gabriel Fortunas
Bass - Germany
2023/24 - 2024/25

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/24

2024, Giovani Voci all’opera, Teatro della Pergola, Florence

2024, opera recital Il poeta e il libertino: due facce di un’era, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2024, Farfallo, Die schweigsame Frau, Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe

2024, The imperial chief, Madame Butterfly, Opern Festspiele, Heidenheim 

2024, Ataliba, Alzira, OpernFestspiele, Heidenheim

2023, Farfallo, Die schweigsame Frau, Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe

2023, Sarastro/Orator/2° armiger, Die Zauberflöte, Stadttheater, Bad Hall

2023, Sarastro, Die Zauberflöte, Aiserbühne 

INGAGGI PRECEDENTI

2023, Don Bartolo, Le Nozze di Figaro, Theater Heilbronn 

2023, Capellio, I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Kammeroper, Weissenhorn 

2022, Don Bartolo, Le Nozze di Figaro, Kammeroper, Monaco 

2022, servant, Capriccio, Bayerische Staatsoper, Monaco 

2022, Snug, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Wilhelma Theater, Stuttgart

2021, Il commendatore, Don Giovanni, Junge Oper Baden-Württemberg, Mannheim 

2021, Il commendatore/Masetto, Don Giovanni, Kammeroper Weissenhorn, Ulm 

2019, Dottore, La traviata, Junge Oper Neuburg, Neuburg a.d. Donau 

2019, Eremit, Der Freischütz, junge Opera Laiblin, Reutlingen

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2022, “Lions Club” competition, third prize

2022,  “August Everding” competition, third prize

EDUCATION

2020-2023, staatliche Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst Stuttgart, “Opera Master”

2015-2020, staatliche Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst Stuttgart, Bachelor Gesang

Sarah Hakobyan
Mezzosoprano - Armenia
2023/24 - 2024/25

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/24

2024, Giovani Voci all’opera, Teatro della Pergola, Florence

2024, Recital Il poeta e il libertino: due facce di un’era, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Christmas Recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Song recital Music al British, British Institute, Florence

2023, Opera recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Season opening recital Meet the artists, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2023, Zweite Dame, Die Zauberflöte, Teatro delle Muse, Ancona

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2021, “The Armenian Romansiada”, 2nd prize

2021, The Third International Video Competition “21st Century Art”, 1st Prize

2021, IVth International Competition “Daina Miestui”, 1st Prize

EDUCATION

2022, Accademia d’Arte Lirica, Osimo

2016-2022, Komitas State Conservatory, Yerevan


Caterina Meldolesi
Soprano - Italy
2023/24 - 2024/25
Maria Manetti Shrem Artist

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/24

2024, Giovani Voci all’opera, Teatro della Pergola, Firenze

2024, Gala Giovani Voci alla Fenice, Teatro La Fenice, Venezia

2024, recital, Il poeta e il libertino: due facce di un’era, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Firenze

2023, Christmas recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Firenze

2023, Luisa Miller, Teatro Sociale di Como, Teatro Fraschini di Pavia

2023, opera recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Firenze

2023, recital in onore di Maria Manetti Shrem, Sala delle Muse, Palazzo Tornabuoni, Firenze

2023, Season opening recital Meet the artists, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Firenze

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2022/23

2023, recital, Scene d’opera: Strauss, Mozart e Verdi, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Firenze (Mascarade Talent Pathway)

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2022, Ines, Il Trovatore, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence

2022, Anna, Le Villi, Fondazione Arturo Toscanini, Parma

2022, Aida, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence

2022, Lidia, Il Cambise, Theater Kiel, Kiel

2022, Caterina, L’Amico Fritz, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence

2021, Mimì, La Bohème, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence

2021, Annina, La Traviata, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence

2021, Cabri, Betulia Liberata, Teatro Olimpico, Vicenza

2021, La Fanciulla, Siberia di Umberto Giordano, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence

2021, Fiordiligi, Così fan tutte, Teatro Goldoni, Florence

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2023 “Voci Verdiane” Competition, Special award “Boris Hristo”, “Future Engagements Awards” (Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Teatro Municipale di Piacenza, Teatro Coccia di Novara)

2023 Aslico Competition, Finalist and role winner for Luisa Miller

2022 Montserrat Caballe Competition, Semifinalist

2022 Vinas Competition, Opernwerkstatt Special Award

2019 Elsa Respighi Lied-Duo Competition, Second Prize

2019 Salice D’Oro Competition, Second Prize, Critics Prize, Engagements Prizes (Parma and Krasnoyarsk)

EDUCATION

2020-2022 Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Young Artist Program

2015-2020 Conservatorio Santa Cecilia, Vocal studies

Daniils Pogoriless
Baritone - Latvia
2023/24 - 2024/25

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/24

2024, Giovani Voci all’opera, Teatro della Pergola, Florence

2024, Orchestral concert Giovani voci alla Fenice, Teatro la Fenice, Venice

2024, Opera recital, Il poeta e il libertino: due facce di un’era, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Christmas Recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Song recital Musica al British, British Institute, Florence

2023, Opera recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Season opening recital Meet the artists, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2022/23

2023, End of Season Opera Recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence (Mascarade Talent Pathway)

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2023, Tonio, Pagliacci, Teatro Regio, Parma

2023, Silvio, Pagliacci, Opera studio “Figaro”

2023, Masetto, Don Giovanni, Latvian National Opera

2022, Malatesta, Don Pasquale, Opera studio “Figaro”

2021, Gilfen, Die Abreise di E. d'Albert, Opera studio “Figaro”

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2022, 11th Stanisław Moniuszko International Vocalist competition and the Operalia competition by Placido Domingo, participant

2022, Special award Riga Brotherhoods of Blackheads and JVLMA chamber music competition

2022, JVLMA and LMT Annual award for Young Musician

2020, 1st place Latvian Inese Galante Talents competition

2019, 2nd place Jānis Zābers International Vocalist Competition

EDUCATION

2022-2024, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, MA Vocal studies 

2018-2022, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, BA Vocal studies

Luiza Willert
Soprano - Brazil
2023/24 - 2024/25

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/2024

2024, Giovani Voci all’opera, Teatro della Pergola, Florence

2024, Orchestral concert Giovani Voci alla Fenice, Teatro La Fenice, Venice

2024, Opera recital, Il poeta e il libertino: due facce di un’era, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Christmas Recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Song recital, Musica al British, British Institute, Florence

2023, Opera recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023,  Opera recital, Tributo a Maria Callas, Circolo dell’Unione, Florence

2023,  Season opening opera recital, Meet the artists, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2023, Fanny Mill, La cambiale di matrimonio, Royal Academy of Music, London

2023, Susanna, Le nozze di Figaro, Royal Academy of Music, London

2022, Anne Trulove, La carriera di un libertino, Royal Academy of Music, London

2022, Rosmene, Imeneo, Royal Academy of Music, London

2022, Sarah/Sun Witch, WITCH, Royal Academy of Music, London

2022, Zerbinetta, Arianna a Nasso (Prologo), Royal Academy of Music, London

2021, La Ciesca, Gianni Schicchi, Royal Academy of Music, London

2020, Monaca, Cartas Portuguesas, Sala São Paulo, San Paolo

2020, Annina, La Traviata, SCAR Jaraguá, Jaraguá do Sul

2019, Bastiana, Bastiano e Bastiana, SCAR Jaraguá, Jaraguá do Sul

2019, 1st lady, Die Zauberflöte, Teatro Bradesco, San Paolo

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2020, 18th Concurso Brasileiro de Canto Maria Callas, 1st place (Best Soprano) 

2020, 1st Concurso Internacional de Canto Linus Lerner (Brazilian edition), tied 1st place (Best soprano)

2020, 5th Concurso Internacional de Canto Linus Lerner, 3rd place in the Women’s category

EDUCATION

2023, Georg Solti Accademia, Solti-Peretti Repetiteurs Course 

2022, Georg Solti Accademia, Solti-Peretti Repetiteurs Course 

2022, Georg Solti Accademia, Bel Canto Accademia 

2021-2023, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Academy Opera 

2021, Theatro São Pedro, Opera Studio

2019-2021, Theatro Municipal de São Paulo, Opera Studio 

Ziga Copi
Tenor - Slovenia
2024/25

EDUCATION

2024 - present - Talent Pathway Artist at Mascarade Opera
2021 - ongoing - Conservatory of Music and Balet Ljubljana

ROLES PERFORMED

2024 - San Giovanni, La Resurrezione, Finland
2022 - Mass No. 2 in G major, D 167, Slovenia

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

April 2024 - Split International competition “Daleki akordi”, 1st prize
March 2024 - SPEVslam competition, 1st prize
November 2023 - Beograd International competition “Lazar Jovsnović” with special “Jadranka Jovanović” prize, 1st prize
May 2023 - Montenegro International competition “Bruna Špiler”, 1st prize
May 2023 - Zagreb International competition “Stojan Stojanov Gančev”, 2nd prize
2022 - SPEVslam competition, 2nd prize
2022 - National Slovene “TEMSIG” competition, 1st prize at Category I
2021 - IMMCC Maribor, 1st prize Category II
2021 - International Solo Singing Competition Aegis Carminis
2021 - in Category I, 3rd prize, and special awards: for the best male soloist, for the best performance of a composition written between 1946-1990, for impressive stage presence, and musical expression

FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS

2024 - Eurimaco, Claudio Monteverdi: Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, Italy
2024 - Spirit, Henry Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, Italy
2024 - San Giovanni, La Resurrezione, Kuusankoskitalo

Marta Miccoli
Mezzosoprano - Italia
2024/25

EDUCATION

2024 - present - Talent Pathway Artist at Mascarade Opera

2023 - ongoing - II level Diploma in Vocal Studies at Arrigo Boito’s Conservatoire, Parma

2020-2023 - I level Diploma in Vocal Studies at Arrigo Boito’s Conservatoire, Parma

ROLES PERFORMED

2023 - Cherubino, Le nozze di Figaro, Cascina Paù and Stresa Festival, Orta

2023 - Flora, La Traviata, Parma Lirica, Parma

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2024 - International Opera Competition “Franco Ghitti”, 3 prize
2024 - International Singing Competition “Giovan Battista Rubini”, 1st prize
2024 - Giulio Neri Competition, Finalist
2023 - Voci all’Opera Competition Giancarlo Aliverta, Role winner (Cherubino)
2023 - Concert prize Mario del Monaco
2023 - Gaetano Zinetti International Competition, Special prize
2023 - Parma Lirica, 3rd prize and Critics’ award

Connor Baiano - Italy/UK
Bass
2021/22 - 2022/23

British-Italian bass Connor Baiano studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, and Royal Academy Opera, coached by Mark Wildman and Ingrid Surgenor.
He was a recipient of the Colin Murray and Verdun Davies Scholarships, and the Charles Mackerras Award. Recent performances include Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte and Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Connor was a Studio Artist at the Mascarade Opera Studio 2021-2022, as well as for the 2022/23 season.

Floriana Cicìo
Soprano - Italy
2020/21 - 2022/23 - 2023/24

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/24

2023, Margherita, Alfredo il Grande (G. Donizetti), “Gaetano Donizetti” Theater, Bergamo

2023, Tavecchi, Il piccolo compositore di musica (G. S. Mayr), “Gaetano Donizetti” Theater, Bergamo

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2022/23

2023, showcase Giovani voci alla Fenice, Teatro La Fenice, Venezia

2023, Staged Scenes Concert: Strauss, Mozart and Verdi, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2022, Christmas Recital, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2021/22

2022, Opera Night Recital, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2020/21

2021, Giovani voci alla Fenice, Teatro La Fenice, Venezia

PREVIOUS ENGAMENTS

2022, Strega Mutocieca, I Kattivissimi, Luglio Musicale Trapanese Theater

2022, Zerlina, Don Giovanni, Teatro Comunale di Carpi

2021, Zerlina, Don Giovanni, “Eleonora Duse” Theater, Bologna

2020, Clorinda, La Cenerentola, “Luciano Pavarotti” Theater, Modena

2019, Ocsana/La Zarina, La Notte di Natale,“Luciano Pavarotti” Theater, Modena

2019, Ocsana/La Zarina, La Notte di Natale, Teatro dell’Opera Giocosa, Savona

2019, Soprano I Soloist, Stabat Mater (Rossini), Europe Philarmonic Orchestra, Todi

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2023, “Maria Caniglia” competition, Sulmona, Italy, 2nd prize

2021, “Giuseppe Di Stefano” competition,Trapani, Italy

2021, Premio Città di Trapani/Premio Sorriso di Silvia; “A. Belli” competition, Finalist

2019, "Fausto Ricci" competition, Viterbo, Italy,  “Germoglio d’arte” award

EDUCATION

2022-2023, Associate Artist at Mascarade Opera, Florence

2020-2021, Resident Artist at Mascarade Opera Studio, Florence

2020, Bachelor of DAMS (Discipline delle Arti, della Musica e dello Spettacolo), Università degli Studi Palermo

2019, Resident Artist at Corso di Alto Perfezionamento per Cantanti Lirici, Teatro Comunale di Modena “Luciano Pavarotti” 

William Desbiens
Baritone - Canada
2021/22 - 2022/23 - 2023/24

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/24

2023/24, Figaro,  Il barbiere di Siviglia, Landestheater Linz, Linz (theatre debut)

2023/24, Figaro (role debut), Il barbiere di Siviglia, Theater und Orchester Heidelberg, Heidelberg

2023, Christmas Recital, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2023, recital, Meet the artists, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2023, Ben, Il telefono, Opéra de Québec, Québec

2023, Pantalone / Farfarello, L'amore delle tre melarance, Heidelberg Theater, Heidelberg

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2022/2023

2023, End of Season Opera Recital, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2023, recital, Scene d’opera: Strauss, Mozart e Verdi, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2022, Christmas Recital, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2022, recital Music at the British, British Institute, Florence

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2021/2022

2022, recital Music at the British: The Clown and the Barber, British Institute, Florence

2022,The Bear: Extravaganza in one act, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2022, Faust, Opéra de Québec, Québec

2021, recital, Histoire Naturelles, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2021, recital, Music squared: The power of the ensemble, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2021, Opening Season Recital Meet the Artists, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2021, recital, An evening of songs and arias by Verdi, Berlioz, Ravel and Mozart, Palazzo Tornabuoni, Florence

2021, Fiorello, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Opéra de Québec, Québec

PREVIOUS ENGAMENTS

2020, Nicola Fedora, Teatro Grattacielo

2020, Schaunard, La Boheme, Mannes Opera

2020, cindoro, La Boheme, Mannes Opera

2019, Marquis de La Force, Dialogues of the Carmelites, VOICExperience

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2022 Vincerò World Singing CompetitionNaples, Italy, Finalist

2022 Ciopera – Paris Opera Competition,Palais Garnier (Paris), Finalist

2021 James Toland Vocal Arts OnlineDirector’s award

2021 Carolyn Bailey and Dominick ArgentoVocal Competition Online Final

EDUCATION

2023-24, Resident Artist at Mascarade Opera

2022-23, Resident Artist at Mascarade OperaStudio

2017-21, Mannes School of Music, BA Voice

Avishka Edirisinghe
Répétiteur - UK and Sri Lanka
2023/24

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/24

2024, Chorus and Repetiteur Work, Glyndebourne

2024, Music assistant, Giovani Voci all’Opera, Teatro La Pergola, Firenze

Répétiteur:

2024, Orchestral concert Giovani voci alla Fenice, Teatro La Fenice, Venice

2024, Recital Il poeta e il libertino: due facce di un’era, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Christmas Recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Recital Tributo a Maria Callas, Circolo dell’Unione, Florence

2023, Season opening recital, Meet the artists, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2023, Assistant Chorus Master, Semele/The Rake’s Progress, Glyndebourne

2023, YA Répétiteur, Hänsel und Gretel, Opera Holland Park, London

2023, Conductor, The Six of Calais/Ruth (Philip Hagemann), Pegasus Opera Company, London

2023, Chorus Master, Carmen/Akhnaten/Die Tote Stadt, English National Opera 

2022, Chorus Master, La Boheme/Tosca/The Yeomen of the Guard/It’s a Wonderful Life (Heggie)/Gloriana, English National Opera, London 

2022, Répétiteur/Assistant Conductor, The Aspern Papers (Philip Hagemann), Pegasus Opera Company, London

2021, Répétiteur, L’enfant Prodigue (Debussy), Pegasus Opera Company, London

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2022, “Kathleen Ferrier” Competition, Pianists Prize

2022, “RCM Lies Askonas”, Pianists Prize

2022, “RCM Schumann” Competition, 2nd Pianist Prize

2021, “RCM Lieder” Competition, Pianists Prize

2021, “Leeds Lieder Festival/Schubert Institute”, Institute Prize

EDUCATION

2021-2023, Royal College of Music, MMus in Collaborative Piano (with a 2nd study in Conducting)

2017-2021, Royal College of Music/Imperial College London, BSc in Physics and Music Performance 

Manon Gleizes - France
Soprano
2021/22

French soprano Manon Gleizes is a graduate of the Lyon Conservatoire, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Le Pôle Lyrique d’Excellence and the Sibelius Academy. Manon has sung Helmwige in Die Walküre at the Eurajoki Festival; Madame Lidoine in Dialogues des carmélites at the ATM Studio; Angelica in Suor Angelica, Lady Billows in Albert Herring, and Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte at the Sibelius Academy; Nedda in Pagliacci, and La Baronne in La vie parisienne at the Bazoches Festival. She was awarded the first prize at the Les Clefs d’Or Competition in 2018, as well as a finalist of the 2022 Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition. Manon receives support from various cultural institutions such as the Wagner Society in Lyon, the Drake Calleja Trust, the Selmi Eskelinin Foundation, the Sibelius Academy, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Soroptimists National France. She was a Studio Artist at the Mascarade Opera Studio in Florence, Italy, working closely with Head of Music Julia Lynch and vocal consultant Prof. Siegfried Gohritz, for the 2021/22 season.

Matthew Gibson - UK
Répétiteur
2022/23

Matthew Gibson was a répétiteur at Mascarade Opera in 2022/23. He was previously on the Répétiteurship MA/MMus programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Alexander Gibson Opera School (2020-2022), where he studied with Philip White and Duncan Williams. During his time in Glasgow, Matthew played for all the main RCS productions, among them Hänsel und Gretel with Adam Hickox and Flight with Matthew Waldren. In the summer of 2022, Matthew undertook engagements with Grange Park Opera and the Oxenfoord International Festival, attending the latter as a recipient of the Sam Hutchings Pianist Prize. At Grange Park Opera, he worked as a répétiteur on Janáĉek’s The Excursions of Mr Brouĉek with George Jackson, and as a chorus pianist on Otello, La Gioconda and Der fliegende Holländer. In the summer of 2023 he was chorus assistant at Wagner Festspiele in Bayreuth.

Aaron Godfrey-Mayes
Tenor
2021/22 - 2022/23

British tenor Aaron Godfrey-Mayes was a member of Royal Academy Opera under the tutelage of singing teacher Mark Wildman and vocal coach Iain Ledingham. During his time at the Academy, Aaron won numerous awards including the Royal Academy of Music Pavarotti Prize. Aaron was also an Alvarez Young Artist with Garsington Opera. In the summer of 2022, Aaron performed the role of Ferrando in Così fan tutte as part of the Amersham Festival of Music, and was the third prize winner at the 2022 Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition. He performed the role of Don Ramiro in Nevill Holt Opera’s production of La Cenerentola in the summer of 2023 and has joined the Internationale Opernstudio at Staatstheater Hamburg in the autumn. Aaron was at Mascarade Opera as an emerging artist for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.

Megumi Hata
Répétiteur - Japan
2023/24

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/24

2024, Music assistant, Giovani Voci all’Opera, Teatro La Pergola, Firenze

Répétiteur:

2024, Orchestral concert Giovani voci alla Fenice, Teatro La Fenice, Venice

2024, recital Il poeta e il libertino: due facce di un’era Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Christmas Recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Opera recital Mascarade, Florence

2023, Season opening recital, Meet the artists, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2023, Don Giovanni, Theater Altenburg Gera Thüringen, Altenburg

2022, “Eight Songs for the Mad King” from Peter Maxwell Davies, Deutsches Nationaltheater, Weimar

2022, Die Fledermaus, Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar, Weimar

2019, Le nozze di Figaro, Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar, Weimar

EDUCATION

2021-2023, Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar, postgraduate course (Konzertexamen Studium) song accompaniment studies. Opera coaching studies as a secondary school subject.

2019-2021, Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar, advanced training course (Weiterbildungsstudium) studies in musical accompaniment.

2015-2018, Tokyo University of the Art, MA Pianosolo studies

2011-2014, Tokyo University of the Art, BA Pianosolo studies

Xavier Hetherington
Tenor
2020/21

After reading Classics at St John’s College, Cambridge, British tenor Xavier Hetherington took his Master’s degree at the Royal College of Music as a Their Serene Highnesses Dr Prince Donatus and Princess Heidi Von Hohenzollern Scholar. He graduated in 2020 with Distinction and moved to the Mascarade Opera Studio (MOS) in Florence for nine months, then was accepted into the Centre de Perfeccionament at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, where he trained for 6 months. Xavier has benefited from the generous support of the King-Farlow Trust, Mr Simon Groves, Mr and Mrs McGowan Stuart and Mr John Rae and is an Opera Prelude Young Artist.

Recent engagements include Don José Carmen (Waterperry Opera Festival); Scrofulous/Toady/Seer/Saul in a new Purcell/Pountney project Masque of Might, Shepherd and cover Orpheus (Monteverdi) and Mini Vixen (all Opera North); L'Incoronazione di Poppea with Harry Bicket and The English Concert Orchestra (Madrid and Barcelona);  Ahasuerus in Handel's Esther (Solomon's Knot, Wigmore Hall, Halle Händel-Festspiele and Musikfestspiele Saar); Mozart's Requiem (Wurzburg Mozart Festival); Tenor solo in Singalong Messiah (Reisopera); Lieutenant Kotler A Child in Striped Pyjamas (Echo Ensemble); Verdi’s Requiem (Royal Albert Hall); concerts with Opera Prelude and the Royal Philharmonic Society, Shepherd La liberazione Di Ruggiero Dall’isola D’Alcina and cover Ferrando Cosí fan tutte (Longborough Festival); an opera gala at the 20th anniversary of the Encuentro de la Música in the Palacio de Festivales, Santander; Lensky Eugene Onegin, Tebaldo I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Don Ramiro La Cenerentola in a scenes showcase at La Fenice; and the trio from Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti at the Palau de les Arts, Valencia.

Marianna Hovhannisyan
Soprano
2021/22 - 2022/23

Armenian soprano Marianna Hovhannisyan graduated from the Yerevan State Conservatoire in 2019 with an MA in classical singing. Roles to date have included Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Norina in Don Pasquale, Nella and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi and Violetta in La traviata. She is also an associate artist of the Yerevan Opera Studio. In 2019, she covered the role of Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro at The New Generation Festival in Florence. Marianna was a professional dancer with the Berd Armenian National Dance Ensemble in addition to performing as a drummer in the Yerevan Drums all-female ensemble. She has also worked at the Armenian State Theatre of Musical Comedy as an actress. She was a 2021-2022 Studio Artist at the Mascarade Opera Studio. Marianna joined Mascarade Opera as an associate artist for the 2022/23 season.

Hovhannes Karapetyan
Bass/Baritone - Armenia
2023/24

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/24

2024, Giovani Voci all’opera, Teatro della Pergola, Florence

2024, Orchestral concert Giovani voci alla Fenice, Teatro la Fenice, Venice

2024, recital Il poeta e il libertino: due facce di un’era, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Christmas Recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, recital Tributo a Maria Callas, Circolo dell’Unione, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2023, Hitman, Macbeth, Festival of Salzburg, Salzburg

2023, Figaro, Le nozze di Figaro, Royal Academy Opera, London

2022, Father Trulove, The Rake’s Progress, Royal Academy Opera, London

2022, Leporello, Don Giovanni, Yerevan Opera Studio, Yerevan

2022, Argenio, Imeneo, Royal Academy Opera, London

2022, Inquisitore 1, Witch, Royal Academy Opera, London

2021, title role in Don Pasquale, Yerevan Opera Studio, Yerevan

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2023, Operalia Competition, Capetown, semifinalist

EDUCATION

2021-2023 Royal Academy of Music of London, Opera diploma

2014-2018 Komitas State Conservatory, BA, Yerevan

Aebh Kelly
Mezzosoprano - Ireland
2021/22 - 2022/23 - 2023/24
Maria Manetti Shrem Artist

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/2024

2024, Rosina (debut), Barbiere di Siviglia, Lyric Opera Ireland, Dublin

2024, Flora (debut), La Traviata, Irish National Opera House, Wexford

2024, Giovani Voci alla Fenice, Teatro La Fenice, Venice

2023, Olga (debut), Eugene Onegin, Theater Heidelberg, Heidelberg

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2022/23

2023, End of Season Opera Recital, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2023, Staged Scenes Concert: Strauss, Mozart e Verdi, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2022, Christmas Recital, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2022, Opera Scenes Concert: Puccini, Massenet e Donizetti, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2022, Opera Scenes Concert: Stravinsky, Strauss, Verdi e Bizet, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2022, Opera Recital, Circolo dell’Unione, Florence

2022, Madame Popova (debut), L'Orso, Lerici Music Festival, Lerici

2022, recital for Amitié sans Frontières, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2022, Opening Season Concert: Meet the Artists, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2021/22

2022, recital Music at the British: The Clown and the Barber, British Institute, Florence

2022, recital The Bear: Extravaganza in one act, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence

2022, recital, Opera Scenes, Cantina Antinori nel Chianti Classico, San Casciano V.P.

2022, recital, Opera Scenes, Circolo dell’unione, Florence

2021, Opening Season Concert: Meet the Artists, Mascarade Opera Foundation, Florence.

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

2023, Clip International Singing Competition, finalist

2022, Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, Second Prize

EDUCATION

2022/23, Resident Artist at Mascarade Opera

2021/22, Resident Artist at Mascarade Opera

2020/21, Irish National Opera’s ABL Aviation Opera Studio

2018/20, BA, Royal Irish Academy of Music

Gabrielė Kupšytė
Mezzosoprano
2020/21

Lithuanian mezzo-soprano Gabrielė Kupšytė is a graduate of the first year of the Mascarade Opera Studio where she worked closely with Julia Lynch. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Opera from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied with Elizabeth Ritchie and Jonathan Papp, before which she graduated with honours in Vocal Studies from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. During her time at the Royal Academy of Music, she was a grateful recipient of the Carr-Gregory Trust Scholarship, was a member of the prestigious Song Circle and won the Isabel Jay Memorial Prize for singing. In 2019 and 2021, Gabrielė attended the Georg Solti Accademia, where she worked with Roberto Frontali, Barbara Frittoli, Grace Bumbry and Richard Bonynge. Gabrielė has appeared as Cenerentola in Rossini’s La Cenerentola (The New Generation Festival); Veronique in Bizet’s Le Docteur Miracle (L’Orchestre de Chambre de Genève); Chérubin in Massenet’s Chérubin, Prince Athamas in Handel’s Semele, The Dog in Janaček’s The Cunning Little Vixen, and La chatte / L’écureuil in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges (Royal Academy of Music). In 2022 Gabrielė joined the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and performed Romeo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi at the National Opera House in Vilnius.

Matteo Londero
Répétiteur
2021/22 - 2022/23

Matteo Londero gained his diploma in piano from the J. Tomadini Conservatoire in Udine and the Santa Cecilia Conservatoire in Rome. Matteo continued his studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Ostrava and at the Rodolfo Celletti Belcanto Academy in Martina Franca. In August 2019, he was répétiteur and maestro al cembalo for the Historical Opera Society in Pordenone, which staged scenes from Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia. He was subsequently engaged as substitute maestro for two productions at Teatro La Fenice in Venice. Since 2019, he has worked as an accompanist at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatoire of Venice. Matteo worked as second répétiteur for the production of La fille du régiment on stage at Teatro La Fenice in October 2022.

Faik Mansuroğlu
Baritone - Turkey
2022/23 - 2023/24
Maria Manetti Shrem Artist

Turkish Baritone Faik Mansuroglu was born in Hatay, Turkey in 1990. He completed his B. Mus. degree in 2017 at Istanbul State University Conservatory of Music studying voice with Lynn Trepel Çağlar. After graduation he became a soloist of the ensemble at Mersin State Opera and Ballet in Turkey. There in 2018 he sang the role of Renato in Un Ballo in Maschera and in the 2018/2019 season among the main roles he sang the role of Escamillo (Carmen) and the oratorio Carmina Burana
(Bariton Solo). There in 2019/2020 He sang Belcore (L'Elisir D’Amore) at Mersin State Opera and Ballet and Figaro (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) at Ankara State Opera and Ballet. Earlier opera experiences includes
Faure Requiem (Bariton Solo), Guglielmo (Cosi Fan Tutte) at the Istanbul Sureyya Opera House in 2017 and Herr Fluth (Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor) at Istanbul Leyla Gencer Culture Center in
2016.

His awards include 2nd prize in Izmir, Turkey's 9. National Young Soloist (Student category) in 2016 and in 2017 he won 2nd prize in Izmir, Turkey's 10 . Professional Young Soloist Competition. In
2018 in the Leyla Gencer 9th Voice Competition he received the Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artists Program Special Award. In 2019 Maria Kraja 17th International Voice Competition he received 3rd prize. In 2019, he was awarded the ’’Best Young Generation Singer of the Year Award’’ by the Semiha Berksoy Foundation.

The summer of 2019 he was selected to be one of the fully funded 12 singers in the Georg Solti Bel Canto Accademia in Tuscany, Italy. In summer, 2018 he was awarded the only full scholarship, Dr. Russell Young Memorial Scholarship, to participate in the Mediterranean Opera
Studio and Festival in Caltagirone, Italy. There he furthered his vocal training with Jack LiVigni, Nelly Miricioiu, and Carlos Conde and sang the roles of Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Belcore (L'Elisir D'Amore). He has participated in masterclasses with Salvatore Fisichella, Antoine Palloc, David Gowland, Brian Dickie, Silvano Zabeo and David Walsh. In August, 2019 he performed the role of Count Almaviva from Le Nozze di Figaro in the New Generation Festival in Florence, Italy.

Faik Mansuroğlu was a member of Mascarade Opera from 2022 to 2024. Faik's place at Mascarade is generously supported by Maria Manetti Shrem. In June 2024 he took part as a guest artist at Andrea Bocelli 30 th Anniversary Concert held at Beşiktaş Tüpraş Stadium. Faik is currently ensemble member of Ankara State Opera, where he sang many of the leading lyric baritone roles, most recently Belcore in L’Elisir D'Amore.

Grisha Martirosyan
Baritone
2021/22 - 2022/23

Armenian baritone Grisha Martirosyan graduated with an MA from the Yerevan State Conservatoire in 2021. The student productions of opera scenes included roles such as the title role in Eugene Onegin, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore, Dr Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Germont in La traviata and Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor. Before becoming an emerging artist at Mascarade Opera, Grisha was a Studio Artist at the Mascarade Opera Studio 2021-2022. Grisha was the first prize winner at the 2022 Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition and second prize winner at the Magda Olivero International Opera Competition. He spent the summer of 2023 with Salzburg Festival’s Young Singers Project and subsequently joined the Jette Parker Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Yuchen Pan
Tenor - China
2023/24

MASCARADE OPERA SEASON 2023/2024

2024, Giovani Voci all’opera, Teatro della Pergola, Florence

2024, recital, Il poeta e il libertino: due facce di un’era, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Christmas Recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Song recital, Musica al British, British Institute, Florence

2023, Opera recital, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

2023, Season opening recital, Meet the artists, Fondazione Mascarade Opera, Florence

PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS

2022, Rodolfo, La Bohème, MOSF Fest, Most

2022, Duca di Mantova, Rigoletto, MOSF Fest, Most 

2018, Lenskij, Eugene Onegin, Russian Opera Workshop AVA Philadelphia

2018, Chekalinskij, Queen of Spades, Russian Opera Workshop AVA Philadelphia

EDUCATION

2019-2022 Brooklyn College di New York, MM Music

2013-2019 Temple University di Philadelphia, BM Music

Sophie Sparrow
Soprano
2022/23

New Zealand soprano Sophie Sparrow studied at Royal Academy Opera with Kate Paterson, Marcus van den Akker and Jonathan Papp where she was supported by the Fishmongers’ Company, Kiwi Music Trust and a Help Musicians Sybil Tutton Opera Award. Opera roles while at Royal Academy Opera included, among others, Sarah/Sun Witch in Freya Waley-Cohen’s recently commissioned opera WITCH, Tytania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas), Despina (Così fan tutte), and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) with Opera Otago. In 2021, Sophie was awarded the ROSL Music Competition Tait Memorial Prize. She was also a Kathleen Ferrier semi-finalist that year, and in 2023 she reached the ROSL Vocal semi-finals. Sophie worked in the 2022 Glyndebourne Festival Chorus and covered Barbarina in Glyndebourne’s Le nozze di Figaro. She joined Mascarade Opera as an emerging artist for the 2022/23 season.

Paweł Trojak
Baritone
2020/21

Polish baritone Paweł Trojak began his vocal studies at the Tarnów Music School. In 2020, he graduated from the Fryderyk Chopin Music University in Warsaw where he studied with Jadwiga Rappé. He is also a member of the Opera Academy of the Polish National Opera at the Teatr Wielki.
Paweł has won prizes at a number of international competitions, including the first prize and three special prizes at the 2019 International Antonina Campi Vocal Competition, a special prize at the 2019 International Stanisław Moniuszko Vocal Competition, the first prize and six special prizes at the 2018 Bell’Arte Competition, the first prize and a special prize at the 2017 Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský Competition, the second prize and five special prizes at the Ada Sari Competition, the first prize at the 2016 Iuventus Canti Competition and the first prize at the 2016 Rudolf Petráka Competition.
Paweł made his Polish National Opera debut in April 2017 as Jonek in Jan Stefani’s The Supposed Miracle, or Kracovians and Highlanders and in January 2018 he took over the leading roles of Bardos and Wawrzyniec in this same production. In June 2018 he returned to the Polish National Opera to sing Le Dancaïre in Carmen.

In July 2017, Paweł took part in a concert performance of Korngold’s Das Wunder der Heliane under Fabrice Bollon at the Freiburg Theatre. The performance was also recorded and released on CD. In the summer of 2018, he was a participant in the Young Singers Project of the Salzburg Festival where he made his debut as the Second Nazarene in Salome. In June 2019 he sang Papageno in Die Zauberflöte at the Warsaw Chamber Opera.

Polixeni Tziouvaras
Mezzosoprano
2020/21

Greek-American mezzo-soprano Xenia Tziouvaras is from Southern California, but currently based in Florence where she is currently a young artist at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and an alumnus of Mascarade Opera Studio.
Recent credits include I due Foscari (Pisana) and Romeo et Juliette (Gertrude) at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Giovani voci alla Fenice at Teatro La Fenice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia) with Chautauqua Institute, Ralph Vaughn Williams’ Serenade to Music at Carnegie Hall, and I due Timidi (Signora Guidotti), La Cenerentola (Tisbe), Così fan Tutte (Dorabella & Despina), Rorem’s A Childhood Miracle (Emma), The Cunning Little Vixen (Dog), L’incoronazione di Poppea (Nerone), and Le Roi L’a Dit (Marquis de LaBluette), all with Manhattan School of Music.
Ms. Tziouvaras has received many awards, most recently as a finalist in the Mildred Miller Voice Competition, the Richard F. Gold Career Gran, the Encouragement Award in memory of Alan M. Ades (George London Foundation). Upcoming engagements include Ayda: Amor Fatale at the Maggio as well as a summer concert series in Majorca.

Ángel Vargas
Tenor
2020/21 - 2022/23

Puerto-Rican tenor Ángel Vargas was a National Semi-finalist at the Metropolitan Opera’s Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition in 2022. At the Houston Grand Opera’s Eleanor McCollum Competition, he won the Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award. He also completed his second season with the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as a Gerdine Young Artist where he sang in the world première of Huang Ruo’s An American Soldier and covered the role of the Duca di Mantua in their production of Rigoletto. As a fellowship recipient at the Aspen Music Festival, he sang Spalanzani in Les contes d’Hoffmann and covered the title role in 2022. He made his role and house debut as Don José in a Landestheater Linz Opera Studio production of Peter Brook’s version of La tragédie de Carmen in 2022. This summer Ángel performed at the Aspen Music Festival in the new opera Bel Canto by… He is an alumnus of Mascarade Opera.

Henry Websdale
Répétiteur
2020/21

Henry Websdale is an opera répétiteur and conductor, who has lived and worked across Europe in some of the most renowned opera houses in the world. He studied and trained at the University of Cambridge and Royal Academy of Music in the UK, as well as at the Mascarade Opera Studio and Georg Solti Accademia in Italy. He has worked as a répétiteur and conductor at Oper Graz in Austria and the Bayerische Staatsoper in Germany, as well as working as a répétiteur at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and Glyndebourne. In 2024, he will take up a position on the permanent staff of the Semperoper Dresden. 

Highlights of his time at Oper Graz included conducting performances of ‘Ein Hauch von Venus’ (Kurt Weill), and working on the Austrian premiere of ‘Morgen und Abend’ (Georg Friedrich Haas) with conductor, Roland Kluttig. In 2022 he made his debut at the Bayerische Staatsoper playing fortepiano for a production of ‘Le nozze di Figaro’ with Christopher Moulds. He then worked on a production of ‘Les Troyens’ (Berlioz) with Daniele Rustioni.

He has worked as a répétiteur at Glyndebourne since 2021, including playing for productions of ‘Katya Kabanova’, ‘Don Pasquale’, ‘Don Giovanni’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘L’elisir d’amore’, with conductors such as Robin Ticciati, Ben Glassberg, Evan Rogister and Dalia Stasevska. He has also worked the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, most recently on a production of ‘La Forza del Destino’ with Sir Mark Elder.

Alexandria Wreggelsworth
Soprano
2020/21

American Soprano Alexandria Wreggelsworth recently received an Artist Diploma from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) and is now at the Mascarade Opera Studio in Florence. Most recently, Alexandria has performed roles such as Nella in Gianni Schicchi (Lunchbreak Opera); Euridice in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice (Oxford Opera Society); Tatyana in Eugene Onegin (The People’s Opera and Oxford Alternative Orchestra). Other performances include Mimì in La bohème (Cyprus Opera Studio); the soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem (London Dockland Singers); and the title role in Suor Angelica (Lunchbreak Opera in London and Love to Sing Opera in Provence). Alexandria has also performed in several concerts,
including an array of song recitals at GSMD, the Barbican Centre, Oxford University, Song in the City and the St Marylebone Festival.

Kristina Yorgova
Répétiteur
2020/21 - 2021/22

Pianist Kristina Yorgova graduated with a MMus from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she studied with Professors Petras Geniusas and Fali Pavri. She was a finalist at the 8th Stasys Vainiunas International Piano Competition in Lithuania. Kristina has performed as a soloist with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Symphony Orchestra, and the Stara Zagora and Vidin orchestras in Bulgaria. She worked for the Vocal Studies department at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2020; as an accompanist, she played for vocal masterclasses at the conservatoire and worked closely with Head of Coaching Julia Lynch in German Lieder classes. Kristina has worked as an orchestral pianist/celeste, freelancing with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra since March 2019. Projects have included the Ten Pieces project by Steve Reich, Stravinsky’s Firebird and Petrushka, and Ligeti’s Mysteries of the Macabre. She was a Studio Artist répétiteur at the Mascarade Opera Studio in Florence for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, where her work is guided by Head of Music Julia Lynch and conductors Sándor Károlyi and Jonathan Santagada. She was part of Scottish Opera’s Emerging Artists programme for the 2022/23 season.

Lauren Young
Mezzosoprano
2020/21

Scottish mezzo soprano Lauren Young is a Mascarade Opera Studio alumna for the 2020/2021 season. She is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Alexander Gibson Opera School (RCS). Lauren is a recipient of an Independent Opera Voice Scholarship and Fellowship. She was the winner of the Clonter Opera Prize and the Joaninha Trust Award in 2020 and runner up in the Ye Cronies Opera Award 2019 and 2020. A keen recitalist, Lauren enjoys a close collaborative relationship with pianist José Javier Ucendo, whom with she was a finalist in the Oxford Lieder Young Artist Platform 2020, Leeds Lieder Young Artists 2020 and won the Elgar-Spedding Memorial Lieder Prize at RCS. Operatic experience includes Baba The Turk The Rake’s Progress, Angelina La Cenerentola (British Youth Opera); Erste Mägde Elektra, Flosshilde Das Rheingold (Edinburgh Players Opera Group); Lucretia The Rape of Lucretia, Zita Gianni Schicchi, Sorceress Dido and Aeneas, Jade Boucher Dead Man Walking (UK Staged Premiere), La Prieure Dialogues des Carmélites; Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro (RCS). Upcoming engagements include covering with the English National Opera in their 2021/2022 season. Concert highlights having included Duruflé Requiem, Bach B Minor Mass and St. John Passion, Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle and Pergolesi Stabat Mater. She made her Wigmore Hall debut in October 2020 as part of the Independent Opera Scholar’s Recital. Upcoming engagements include singing the alto solos in Handel’s Messiah at her Cadogan Hall debut in April 2022. Lauren has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Dame Sarah Connolly, Sir Thomas Allen, Mariella Devia, Susan Bullock, Karen Cargill and Andrea Baker.

Season 2022/23

  • Gabrielė Kupšytė, Jette Parker Artists Programme, 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons
  • Pawel Trojak, Opéra Studio of Lyons, 2022/23 season
  • Polixeni Tziouvaras, Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, 2022/23 season
  • Henry Websdale, Solorepetitor mit Dirigierverpflichtung, Graz Opera, 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons
  • Kristina Yorgova, Emerging Artists Répétiteur, Scottish Opera, 2022/23 season
  • Aaron Godfrey-Mayes, 3rd prize, Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, Dublin, 2022 
  • Grisha Martirosyan, 1st prize and public prize, Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, Dublin, 2022 
  • Aebh Kelly, 2nd prize, Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, Dublin, 2022 
  • Ángel Vargas, Don José, Carmen (Peter Brook version), Landestheater Linz, 2022 
  • Matteo Londero, assistant conductor, La fille du régiment, Teatro La Fenice, Venice, 2022 
  • William Desbiens, finalist, Vincerò Singing Competition, Naples, 2022 
  • Aaron Godfrey-Mayer, finalist, Vinas Singing Competition, Milan, 2022
  • Grisha Martirosyan, 2nd prize and public prize, Magda Olivero International Opera Competition, Milan, 2022 
  • Matteo Londero, répétiteur, L’elisir d’amore, Teatro lirico di Cagliari, 2022 
  • William Desbiens, Pantalone and Farfarello, Lieben zu den drei Orangen, Theater Heidelberg, 2023 
  • Grisha Martirosyan, 1st prize,  Lithuanian Virgilijus Noreika Singing Competition, Vilnius, 2023 
  • Grisha Martyrosian, Special Prize Oper Koln, Special Prize Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Belvedere Singing Competition, Düsseldorf, 2023
  • Aaron Godfrey-Mayes, Don Ramiro (role debut), La Cenerentola, Nevill Holt Opera, Leicestershire, 2023 
  • Matteo Londero, répétiteur, Carmen, Teatro di Cagliari, 2023
  • Matthew Gibson, répétiteur, Bayreuth Festspiele, Bayreuth, 2023
  • Floriana Cicio, Margherita, Alfredo il Grande, Bottega Donizetti, 2023
  • Marianna Hovhannisyan, Eva Klenitz Prize, CLIP Portofino, Portofino, 2023
  • Ángel Vargas, Fleming Artist, General Alfredo, Jimmy Lopez’s new opera Bel Canto, Aspen Festival, 2023
  • Grisha Martirosyan, Salzburg Young Singer, Salzburg Festspiele, Salzburg, 2023

Season 2023/24

  • Matthew Gibson, répétiteur, Nationaltheater Mannheim, Mannheim, 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons
  • Aaron Godfrey-Mayes, Hamburg International Opera Studio, 2023/24 season
  • Grisha Martirosyan, Jette Parker Artists Programme, 2023/24 season
  • Aebh Kelly, Olga (role debut), Onegin, Theater Heidelberg, 2023/24 season
  • Caterina Meldolesi,  special prize Boris Hristov, Voci Verdiane Competition, Busseto, 2023
  • Caterina Meldolesi, Luisa (role debut),  Luisa Miller, Teatro Sociale di Como, Como, 2023/24 season
  • Floriana Cicio, Margherita, Alfredo il Grande, Bottega Donizetti, Bergamo, 2023
  • Gabriel Klitzing, Farfallo (role debut), Schweigsame Frau,  Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, 2023/2024 season
  • Floriana Cicio, Frasquita (role debut), Carmen, Teatro Politeama, Lecce, 2023
  • William Desbiens, Figaro (role debut), Il barbiere di Siviglia, Theater Heidelberg, 2023/2024 season
  • William Desbiens, Figaro, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Landestheater Linz, Linz, 2023/2024 season
  • Aebh Kelly, Flora Bervoix (role debut), La traviata, Irish National Opera, Dublin, 2023/24 season 
  • Matteo Londero, répétiteur, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, 2023/24 season