Sophie Salvesani
Growing up in the outer suburbs of Brisbane, Sophie’s love of music began at a young age when she began studying flute in primary school. Her studies shortly afterwards extended to both singing and theory of music, eventually leading to the completion of multiple ANZCA music qualifications. She then went on to graduate from the University of Southern Queensland with a Bachelor of Education with Distinction, whilst continuing private singing tuition with Douglas McRae and studies in German at the Goethe Institut.
During this time, she also competed at various eisteddfodau including the Silkstone Eisteddfod (2016) and the Queensland Eisteddfod (2018). In addition to receiving the Best Performance in a Foreign Language Award, she achieved second place for Art Song, as well as placing third in both the Ladies Oratorio and Music Theatre/Light Opera sections.
Sophie made her stage debut in her high school production of West Side Story in the role of Consuelo, as well as understudy for the role of Maria, so it was only fitting that she make her professional and principal debut in 2019 as Maria in Opera Australia, GWB Entertainment and BB Group’s touring production of West Side Story. This production saw her tour not only Australia, but New Zealand and Germany, in which she debuted in some of Europe’s most prestigious opera houses, Semperoper (Dresen) and Staatsoper Unter den Linden (Berlin). Sophie received praise from critics for her “heavenly soprano voice” and ability to “easily navigate the demands of the score” while ensuring “Maria’s journey from...dreamy lover to broken young woman is authentic as it is impactful”.
Previous roles include Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, Pearly Blossom in The Spring Heeled Terror of Stepney Green, Cosette in Les Misérables, as well as Mabel in the Toowoomba Empire Theatre’s production of Pirates of Penzance. Sophie was also fortunate enough to be chosen as a chorus member for Opera Queenland’s 2014 production of Puccini’s La Bohème. Having made her Sydney Opera House debut in 2018 as a Young Artist with Sydney’s Pacific Opera, Sophie further relished the opportunity to perform this year as a soloist with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Dr Nicholas Milton AM, singing selections from the Great American Songbook including a reprisal of a West Side Story classic.
Continuing her association with Opera Australia this year, Sophie was honoured to tour across Sydney playing Rosina in the NSW School’s Tour of The Barber of Seville. Sadly, this tour was cut short due to rehearsals as Hanna Glavari’s cover in Opera Australia’s production of The Merry Widow.
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