MEET THE SOLOIST: Maya Kherani, soprano

Soprano Maya Kherani performs Handel's Messiah
December 4, 2022, 3PM

Background: Ms. Kherani graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with a B.S.E. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and certificates (minors) in Music Performance, Materials Science, and Robotics and Intelligent Systems. At Princeton, she received the Isidore and Helen Sacks Award for excellence in Music Performance and was a dancer and choreographer for Naacho South Asian Dance Company and a member and soloist in the Princeton University Glee Club. She holds a master of music degree with honors from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a Professional Certificate from the Boston University Opera Institute.

Highlights:

•  Ms. Kherani’s numerous awards include semi-finalist in the 2020 Glyndebourne Cup, third place in the 2021 Handel Aria Competition, the 2015 McGlone Award from Central City Opera, first place and Audience Favorite at the James Toland Vocal Competition, second place at the Peter Elvins Vocal Competition the Kalvelage Award at West Bay Opera’s Holt Competition, two Encouragement Awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and the top overall Barlow Award at the San Francisco Bay Area NATS competition, where she also won first place in both the Professional Art Song and Aria categories.
• Current and upcoming projects include a debut at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and Versailles as Drusilla/Fortuna in L’incoronazione di Poppea; Autonoe in Sartorio’s Orfeo with Philippe Jaroussky Opéra national de Montpellier; Muffat’s Missa in labore requies with Philharmonia Baroque in San Francisco; Mahler Symphony No. 4 with Vancouver Symphony; Handel’s Belshazzar, Messiah and Bach’s Mass in A major with American Bach Soloists; a world premiere project as Piper in Pay the Piper with Glyndebourne; Mukhtar in Sankaram’s Thumbprint with Portland Opera; Messiah with Boston Baroque and Portland Baroque Orchestra, Reena Esmail’s Meri Sakhi Ki Avaaz (My Sister’s Voice) with Berkeley Symphony; Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera San Jose and a debut (tba) with Pacific MusicWorks.
• Most recent engagements include her European debut with the Fondazione Giorgio Cini – Seminari di Musica Antica singing the modern-world première of French Baroque works from Caribbean. She then returned to sing in a follow-up program, directed by Mr. Memelsdorff and Vivica Genaux. Additionally, she sang the title role of Partenope in Opera NEO, Beatrice in Three Decembers and Belinda in Dido and Aeneas with Opera San Jose, Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera with West Edge Opera, Rosina in Cinnabar Theater, Laura Kaminsky’s Today It Rains with Opera Parallèle and Musetta in La bohème with West Bay Opera.



Critical Praise:

• "Soprano Maya Kherani came out last, stunning in her red ensemble, her expressive, bell-like vocals sparkling brighter than her jewels. She demanded attention from the start, her Arioso showcasing an impressive ability to glide in and out of diminuendos. Her stable vibrato complemented the chorus, keeping the prolonged notes melodical as she graced the crowd with her dazzling smile." The Harvard Crimson
• "Best of all may have been soprano Maya Kherani as Susanna. Her bright tones sparkled throughout the opera, and “Deh vieni, non tardar” in Act IV was delightful. Kherani had great chemistry with her Figaro, Isaiah Musik-Ayala. Their sense of timing of the physical humor was spot on and very funny." San Francisco Classical Voice
• “From her opening ornate aria, Maya Kherani’s Partenope sailed through Handel’s effusive coloratura with gleaming precision and impassioned conviction. She dominated this production the same way an excellent Violetta commands Verdi’s La traviata.” San Diego Story

Tickets start at $15! Click HERE or call 401-248-7000 to purchase today!