Fiona McArdle

South Australian soprano Fiona McArdle made her professional debut in 2017 as La Ciesca in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi with the State Opera of South Australia. With the company she also played Magdalene (Der Meistersinger von Nürnberg) and second saleswoman (La Vida Breve).

Fiona completed her Master of Music at the New England Conservatory, Boston, USA, 2018. Role highlights within her studies include Frantik, Crvek and Kohout (Cunning Little Vixen), Xiao Qing (Gilgamesh) and Véronique (Doctor Miracle). During her time in the USA Fiona worked with Pittsburgh Festival Opera, playing Mistress Zimmerlein in The Silent Woman, and she was part of the premiere of Symphony New Hampshire’s The Essential Ring Part I and Part II as Flosshilde and First Norn. From Boston, Fiona moved to London, UK, in late 2018. Here she made her lyric soprano debut in the role of Mimì (La bohéme) with Hampstead Gardens Opera (2019).

Fiona’s past performing experience includes touring Australia with South Australian company Co-Opera: Opera on the Move. With the company she appeared as La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), and Dorabella (Così fan tutte).

Fiona has a passion for the recital stage and has performed in concert with Graham Johnson and Malcolm Martineau, and has been a recitalist in the Fringe Festival, and Adelaide Hills Winter Music Festival. She is excited to present Songs for a Muse for State Opera of South Australia with Konstantin Shamray later this year.

Competition and award highlights include winning the 2014 Beta Sigma Phi Classical Music Award, the 2017 Kinnon Award in the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award, and the 2017 Encouragement Award in the German-Australian Opera Grant competition. Fiona was also awarded an Australian International Opera Awards Special Study Award in Melbourne (2017), the George Boland Scholarship (2015) and the Elder Overseas Scholarship (2015).