Olivia Payne, Mezzo-Soprano, holds a Bachelor of Music Performance (Classical Voice) and a Masters of Music Studies (Opera Performance) through the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She also attained an ATCL Diploma through Trinity College London. 

With the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Olivia performed the roles of La Libelulle (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges), Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Papagena (Die Zauberflöte). With Pinchgut Opera, Olivia has performed in The Loves of Apollo and Dafne (chorus), Médée (chorus), Rinaldo (Siren), Theodora (chorus) and Dido and Aneas (Second Witch & Spirit). With Opera Australia, she has performed with the chorus in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Brett Dean’s Hamlet, Bernstein’s Candide and Purcell’s Dido and Aneas. As a Young Artist with Opera Queensland, she covered the role of Dorabella and performed with the chorus in Così fan Tutte. Other roles include Nancy in Albert Herring and Karen in the new recorded Australian Opera, Percy.

Olivia has performed with Cantillation and Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the baton of Simone Young.

She also joined Bach Akademie Australia for their 2024 Christmas Oratorio.

Olivia is currently a Taryn Fiebig Scholar with Pinchgut Opera and is a full-time member of the Opera Australia Chorus.

Image credit: Bree Bain

AT THE FESTIVAL