Mexican-American Soprano, Amanda Olea, has made a name for herself as an emerging young artist, praised for her "pretty voice" and "spectacular high register", performing with companies across the United States and internationally.
This season marks several debuts for her with organizations in her hometown of San Diego, California. She kicked off the season with a standout performance in the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus's season opener, with Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 after winning First Place in their Young Artist Competition, along with the accolade for Best Performance of a Contemporary Piece. Further highlights of her debut season include taking on the Soprano Solo in Joey Roukens’ 365 with the San Diego Symphony and portraying Mimi in La Boheme with Opera a la Carte.
In the summer of 2022 Amanda joined the Santa Fe Opera as an Apprentice Artist where she participated in the productions of Carmen, Falstaff and the world premier of M. Butterfly. You could also spot her on the Santa Fe Opera stage singing the roles of Despina in Cosi fan tutte and Luisa in Luisa Fernanda in the 2022 Apprentice Scene showcase.
Recently a studio artist with Florida Grand Opera, Ms. Olea made her company debut singing the haunting role of Mexican Woman in Streetcar Named Desire. Her 2021-2022 season included multiple house and role debuts such as, Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto and Ms. Lightfoot in Fellow Travelers both with Florida Grand Opera. This season also included her international debut in the one woman opera Diario de un Fantasma written by her father, Oscar Olea, at the Festival Internacional Divertimento in Mexico City.
Devoted to promoting new works, Amanda participated in Cincinnati Opera’s Opera Fusion:New Works workshop of Kevin Puts’ The Hours, singing the roles of Barbara and Mrs. Latch. Other roles performed include, Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Flora in The Turn of the Screw, and Adina in L’elisir d’amore. She was slated to sing the role of the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte as well as the Soprano 1 solos in the Monteverdi Vespers, both projects were unfortunately canceled due to Covid-19.
Equally comfortable on the concert stage, Amanda has had the pleasure of joining multiple ensembles as a featured soloist, singing Carmina Burana with Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, the soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah with Cincinnati Collegium, Lebanon Symphony Orchestra, and both the Mozart Requiem and Faure Requiem with San Diego State University. Amanda has found success in competitions across the country, including the prestigious Corbett Opera Competition at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, receiving the John Alexander Memorial Award two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020. She also placed second in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, and has been a Musical Merit Foundation of Greater San Diego protégé since 2016. Amanda is a former Bonfils-Stanton Festival Artist with Central City Opera, where she performed the role of La Zia in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and was a featured soloist as a part of their afternoon recital series. As a lover of chamber music and collaborating with other artists, she has curated many recitals throughout the years that often include a variety of disciplines and lesser performed works.
Amanda completed her master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is in the process of completing her doctoral in musical arts. She received her undergraduate degree from San Diego State University.
