Monica Ruggiero

Notes

“Phenomenal mezzo-soprano Monica Ruggiero” (Stage Whispers, 2024) has been praised for her “engaging spirit and soaring voice” (ArtsHub 2024) as well as her “outstanding stage presence and mix of elegance and humour” (Lindy Hume, 2024). The Italian- Australian mezzo-soprano made her professional debut in 2024, performing the role of Kate in The Pirates of Penzance at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. In 2025, Monica will take part in Opernfest Prague with a full Merit Scholarship, the Queensland Art Song Festival with pianist Michael Anthrak, and a world premiere and album recording with composer and guitarist Tara Lynam. Monica has displayed outstanding theatrical versatility and vocal diversity in roles performed to date and has worked alongside esteemed directors such as Stuart Maunder, Lindy Hume, Constantine Costi, and Michael Gow. In 2025, Monica will perform Papagena in VOXALIS Opera’s production of Die Zauberflöte at the Tyalgum Music Festival, as Melanto in Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria, and as Mrs Nolan in Springboard Opera’s production of The Medium. In 2024, she appeared as La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, Zerlina in Don Giovanni at the Cuskelly College of Music, and in VOXALIS Opera’s production of Hansel and Gretel at the Tyalgum Music Festival. Furthermore, Monica has performed the roles of Cherubino in scenes from Le Nozze di Figaro, Venus from Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld, and Mustardseed in Britten’s Midsummer Night's Dream. Monica is the recipient of the Elizabeth Muir Award (2025), Sir Mostyn Hanger Opera Scholarship (2024), and the Griffith University Academic Excellence Award (2025-2021). She has been a finalist for the National Liederfest, Margaret Nickson Prize, and Janet Perkins Scholarship. In 2024 Monica was awarded a Bachelor of Music in operatic performance with first class Honours from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University under the tutelage of Associate Professor Margaret Schindler.