biography
Korean-Australian soprano Gemma Nha is currently completing a Master of Music in Vocal Arts at The Juilliard School, studying with Darrell Babidge as a Toulmin Scholar (2022-2023) and a Kovner Fellow (2023-2024). She graduated from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna where she received a Bachelor of Arts Gesang (Honours) under the tutelage of Peter Edelmann. In the 24/25 season, Gemma will be a first year soprano at the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center where she will be making her house debut as the Page in Rigoletto, reprising Barbarina, and singing the role of Jess and covering Ashley in Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners.
This season, Gemma makes two role debuts: Ruth Baldwin in John Musto and Mark Campbell’s Later the Same Evening, and Flerida in Cavalli’s Erismena, both with Juilliard Opera. She also debuts with the Albany Symphony, and at Carnegie Hall in May as a prize winner of the Gerda Lissner Foundation Lieder/Song Competition. Gemma recently became a National Semifinalist of the Laffont Metropolitan Opera Competition representing the New England Region, and won First Prize at the 18th Seoul International Music Competition, being the first female to do so in the Voice category.
In the 22/23 season, Gemma made her house and role debut as Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro at the Volksoper Wien. She went on to sing La Conversa I and cover Lauretta in Juilliard Opera’s double bill Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, and during the summer, Gemma was an Apprentice Singer at the Santa Fe Opera. Other operatic credits include: Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Esmeralda in Die verkaufte Braut in the Schlosstheater Schönbrunn for the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw); and Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel with PlusOpera. In concert, Gemma performed in Händel’s Dixit Dominus at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Messiah with the Fiori Musicali Chamber Choir as well as the Tagkhanic Chorale under the baton of Maestro Jason Tramm. She has also worked in masterclass settings with conductor Speranza Scappucci, Roger Vignoles, Helmut Deutsch, and soprano Lisette Oropesa.
Also present in the musical theatre scene, Gemma made her professional debut covering and performing Tuptim in The King and I Seefestspiele Mörbisch, and performed other musical theatre roles including Trix the Aviatrix in The Drowsy Chaperone MUSE and Meg in Australian musical 7 Little Australians Opera Carnivale. She also performed with Patti Lupone on her 2018 Don’t Monkey with Broadway tour at the Sydney Opera House.
In 2023, Gemma was the Liederkranz Foundation Second Prize winner of the Gerda Lissner Foundation Lieder/Song Competition and awarded an Encouragement Award at the Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition. In 2022 she was awarded the Margreta Elkins Encouragement Award at the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation Bel Canto Award. Gemma was a 2020 finalist of the Lotte Lenya Competition and contributed to the Lotte Lenya Competition Songbook. She has previously seen success at The Sydney Eisteddfod, placing first in French Song, Lieder, and Art Song (16-20), as well as Musical Theatre Vocal Duets and Song from a Musical/Musical Theatre (18 & over).
“…perfekt Komödie…”
“…perfect comedy…”
Peter Jarolin, Kurier
A graduate of The McDonald College Performing Arts School with the Principal’s Scholarship and the Young Actors at Strasberg program at The Lee Strasberg Film and Theater Institute in New York, Gemma has pursued performing arts since the age of eleven and began her classical singing journey at seventeen with Dr. Rowena Cowley at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. During her time at the Con, Gemma received The Olive Margaret Stewart Bequest, The Patrick Lucas Music Achievement Scholarship and the Vice Chancellor’s Global Mobility Scholarship to assist with her transition to Vienna. She was seen on televised singing competitions such as The Voice Kids Australia, The Voice Australia and KpopStar Season 4, and performed at Nickelodeon’s Slimefest 2014 as a Voice Kids guest.