Soprano Maia Andrews
Maia has worked in the field of classical and opera music for many years and has captivated audiences all over the world with her stage presence and performances. Before relocating back to Sydney during the COVID pandemic, Maia had performed in the title role in Grigori Frid’s Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank at Theater Altenburg Gera in 2020, and in 2020-2021 as a soloist in a wide range of repertoire for operatic gala concerts, including recordings for the Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk.
Maia graduated from Kincoppal Rose Bay in 2007. She was the first recipient of the Ian Duncan Choral Scholarship. The youngest of four children, Maia’s introduction to opera was watching her older siblings perform in the children’s chorus at Opera Australia before joining herself, where she fell in love with the art form.
Whilst living in Germany, Maia studied a Masters of Opera (Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar) and was a member of the Thüringen Opera Studio. In Sydney, Maia had previously completed a Diploma of Opera (Sydney Conservatorium of Music) and a Bachelor of Music/Arts (UNSW).
In 2019 Maia performed the role of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte in the Oper Oder-Spree festival and Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel in a return appearance with the Jenaer Philharmonie. Other roles include: Susanna and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro; Zerlina in Don Giovanni; Mademoiselle Silberklang in Der Schauspieldirektor; and Amy in Little Women. Her latest operatic engagement was in the role of Une Italienne in Pinchgut’s production of Charpentier’s Medée at the City Recital Hall in Sydney in December 2022.
Maia has been the recipient of numerous awards in her operatic career including the MTO German-Australian Opera Grant, Helpmann Family Foundation Scholarship, Opera and Arts Support Group, NSW Wagner Society, and Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Foundation. Most recently, Maia was awarded a position in Opera Queensland’s 2023 Young Artist Program where she most notably performed in their production of Sunset Opera and covered the role of Fiordiligi in the new production of Così fan tutte. In addition, Maia has also recently been awarded the Johnson Memorial scholarship by Opera Australia in her studies/preparations for Mimi in Italy where Maia has worked and coached with many industry professionals all whilst studying Italian.
In 2022, Maia was the soloist for Mozart’s Mass in C and Schubert’s Mass in G with the UNSW Collegium Music Choir and Orchestra, Bach’s Magnificat in D BWV 243 with the Phoenix Choir Blackheath and Bach’s Cantata BWV 140 with St Andrew’s Cathedral. She also toured the Women of the Pietà with Pinchgut Opera and performed in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle with the Phoenix Choir Blackheath.
Recently, KRB music elective students from Yrs 9-12 were thrilled to attend Opera Australia’s performance of La Traviata where Maia appeared in the chorus.
Maia is currently staring as Mimi in Opera Australia’s production of Puccini’s La Boheme, which commences its national tour throughout regional NSW, Victoria and Tasmania in July 2024. For more information, including dates and venues, visit: www.opera.org.au for details.