About

Japanese-American mezzo soprano, Sophia Maekawa from Kyoto, Japan is currently in her first year as a Ryan Opera Center ensemble member. 

This season Ms. Maekawa has appeared on Lyric’s stage as Tisbe in La Cenerentola and Pastuchyna in Jenůfa. 

She recently covered the role of Li Song in Émigré (US Premiere) by Aaron Zigman with the NY Philharmonic, as well as the mezzo soloist in Mozart Requiem at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. 

Summer of 2022Ms. Maekawa was an Apprentice Artist in Santa Fe Opera where she covered Rosina in il barbiere di Siviglia and Comrade Chin/ Shu Fang in M. Butterfly. Some roles in Ms.Maekawa’s repertoire include: Ariodante (Ariodante), Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Annio (La clemenza di Tito), Mercedes (Carmen), Nancy (Albert Herring), Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte), Second Woman (Dido and Aeneas), and Mrs. Nolan (The Medium). 

This year Ms. Maekawa received the scholarship award from the American Opera Society Competition. She has also placed first in both the 12th Tokyo International Vocal Music Competition and the 24th Japan Classic Music Competition and also competed as a finalist in the 89th Japan Music Competition.

In summer of 2021 Ms. Maekawa was a Gerdine Young Artist at Saint Louis Opera. Ms. Maekawa holds a BM from Curtis Institute of Music