Alumni Profile: Elena Xanthoudakis
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Degree: Music (Masters) 2005Current Position: Opera Singer An internationally recognised opera singer, Elena completed her Bachelor of Music Performance (Honours) at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2001 and also holds a Master of Music Performance at the University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma of Opera from the VCA. Elena was recently declared the winner of the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the great composer's life. The Mozart Competition took place in August this year and singers from 28 nations that had reached preselection competed in the competition's three rounds over a week and a half. |
This was the first time the competition had been included in the International Salzburg Festival and Elena's prize included 10,000 euros, an orchestral concert in 2007 Mozart week in Salzburg, and a concert tour of Japan.
2006 saw Elena make her debut at London’s English National Opera as Kristina in The Makropulos Case with Sir Charles Mackerras and she will make her debut at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as Frasquita in their new production of Carmen this December with Antonio Pappano.
Elena commenced study in Physics at the University of Melbourne in 1997, but due to her passion for music, she commenced her Bachelor of Music Performance at the VCA in 1998 studying with Natalia Afeyan (Voice lecturer and director) under Brian Hansford (Head of Vocal department).
Throughout her degree at the VCA, Elena endeavoured to perform a wide variety of styles, however gained a great feel for the genres of Lieder and Oratorio. This is an area she continued to refine in her Masters of Music Performance at the University of Melbourne with singing teacher Merlyn Quaife (Head of Vocal Studies).
Elena spends her time between Glasgow, London and Australia - and wherever else work takes her! She loves travel and considers herself fortunate to have performed in St Petersburg, Hong-Kong, Athens, throughout the Tuscany and Abruzzo regions in Italy, Salt-Lake City, Montreal and the UK.
For more information about Elena, visit www.elenaxan.com
