Hailed as a “true Puccini Lyric Soprano” by Opera News, Italian-American Soprano, Anna Mandina, has been making a name for herself in the opera world for the past decade. Anna recently performed the role of Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro and Susannah Polk in Susannah with Opera Fort Collins. Ms. Mandina has often worked with Sarasota Opera, making her mainstage debut in 2019 singing 13 performances of Liù in the company’s Diamond Anniversary production of Turandot. Anna was hailed as “impressive” and “heart-rending” as Liù by Opera News, having conveyed “all that is sweet and good with a robust soprano voice that can float a high B-flat as she sung of Calaf’s smile.” Since 2019, Anna has performed three mainstage roles with Sarasota Opera including Mimì in La bohème, Serpina in La serva padrona, and Zerlina in Don Giovanni all to great acclaim. Anna has regularly performed with Opera Maine, Opera Company of Middlebury, Opera Fort Collins, and Landlocked Opera. More information regarding Anna’s performing experience can be found on her website annamandinasoprano.com. 

Anna’s training includes past apprenticeships with Seagle Festival, the Houston Grand Opera Young Artist Vocal Academy, Opera Company of Middlebury, Opera Maine, the Missouri Symphony, and Sarasota Opera. Anna holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a Master of Music degree in Opera Performance from The Boston Conservatory. As a student and professional, Anna has received many honors and awards including First Place in the MTNA National Young Artist Vocal Competition and an Encouragement Award for the Metropolitan Opera National Council District Auditions in Kansas City to name a few. 

Anna has had the wonderful opportunity to perform in her college hometown of Columbia the past few years. In October 2024, she made her debut with the Choral Arts Alliance of Missouri and the Columbia Chorale as the soprano soloist in Haydn’s The Creation under the baton of R. Paul Crabb. After many years of performing, Anna is thrilled to join the illustrious voice faculty and share her knowledge and expertise with the students here at MU, her beloved alma mater