Brisbane-born mezzo-soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas is a Kovner Fellow at The Juilliard School, New York where she commenced her studies online last October under Professor Edith Wiens.

Xenia was awarded a Bachelor of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in 2018 with first class honours and the University Medal for Academic Achievement. In 2019, Xenia was a scholar of the Melba Opera Trust program supported by the Amelia Joscelyne Scholarship. Later that year, Xenia studied with teachers from the Metropolitan Opera House and The Juilliard School as part of the prestigious Opera Foundation for young Australians’ Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship that she won in 2018. In 2020, she participated in the Carnegie Hall Song Studio 2020 program and undertook masterclasses with Renée Fleming and Elina Garanča.

Recent performance engagements include Opera Queensland’s Vocal Ensemble, Brisbane Racing Club members’ evening, Festival of Outback Opera with Opera Queensland, Opera at Jimbour with Opera Queensland and Queensland Music Festival, Bangalow Festival with the Southern Cross Soloists, and the Camerata of St John’s Helpmann-nominated ‘Home’ concert.

Xenia’s operatic roles include Dorabella in Così fan tutte, L’enfant in L’enfant et les sortilèges; Mrs Gladys Callaway in Dry River Run; and Ramiro in La finta giardiniera.

Xenia is a member of Opera Queensland’s 2021 Young Artist Program.