Mezzo-soprano Olivia Payne graduated with a Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has an ATCL Diploma (Trinity College London) and a Bachelor of Music Performance (Sydney Conservatorium of Music). With the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Olivia has performed the roles of La Libelulle in L’enfant et les sortilèges, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte. In 2021, she made her debut with Pinchgut Opera in the chorus of The Loves of Apollo and Dafne. Recent roles include Nancy in Pacific Opera’s production of Albert Herring and Karen in the recording of the new Australian opera, Percy – The Opera. In 2017 Olivia was selected as a member of the on-screen ‘Goodes Christmas Choir’ in Bruce Beresford’s film adaptation of Madeleine St. John’s novel, Ladies in Black. During her studies, she was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Global Mobility Scholarship which saw her travel to China to participate in the Zhejiang Conservatory Vocal Enrichment Project. Olivia has participated in masterclasses with Graham Johnson, Dr Joseph Perniciaro and Amir Farid. In 2022, she was a finalist in the Sydney Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship, made her debut with Cantillation and Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the baton of Simone Young, and performed in the chorus for Pinchgut Opera’s production of Charpentier’s Médée. In December, she performed with the Young Stars of Australian Opera at Sydney’s Carols in the Domain. In 2023, Olivia joins Opera Queensland’s Young Artist Program, most recently performing in Sunset Opera at South Bank in March, and understudying the role of Dorabella in Patrick Nolan’s forthcoming new production of Così fan tutte in QPAC’s Playhouse in August.