Paola Cuffolo began her solo singing career as a soprano at the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Eileen Price, where she won the Singer's Prize in 2006. Paola was accepted to read Music at St Peter's College, Oxford in 2007, where she was holder of the Paul Geddes choral scholarship, and as such performed as a soloist in Bach’s Matthäus Passion and Magnificat, Fauré and Duruflé’s Requiems, as well as giving numerous solo recitals around Oxford. While studying, Paola was also extremely active in the operatic scene, co-founding St Peter's College Opera, with whom she sang the roles of Donna Anna (Don Giovanni, 2008) Despina (Così fan Tutte, 2009), Adele (Die Fledermaus, 2009), as well as Maragond (Fierrabras, 2009) Frasquita (Carmen scene, 2010) and Mrs Grose (The Turn of the Screw, 2010) for other student companies. Whilst at university Paola also won prestigious awards at both the Croydon and Mid-Somerset Festivals, the latter of which allowed her to perform at the 2008 Glastonbury Extravaganza. After graduating from Oxford in 2010, Paola studied on the Opera Performance course at Birkbeck College, University of London, from which she graduated in 2011. There she sang roles in scenes from Il Re Pastore (Elisa), Capriccio (Countess) and Into the Little Hill (Soprano), under the direction of professional directors Michael Hunt, Caroline Gawn and Tim Hopkins, as well as course director Philip Headlam. Apart from the Glastonbury Extravaganza (alongside The Feeling and Kate Nash) Paola has also sung at prestigious occasions such as the 50th anniversary of St Catherine’s College, Oxford (performing Der Hirt auf dem Felsen with clarinetist Mark Simpson), and performed the soprano solo in Oxford Philharmonia’s concert of Mahler’s 4th Symphony at Oxford Town Hall. Paola transitioned to mezzo soprano in 2011. Since then she has sung in recitals, concerts and masterclasses with, among others, Susan McCulloch, Amanda Roocroft, Robin Bowman and Henry Herford. She made her operatic debut as a mezzo soprano singing Dritte Dame in Die Zauberflöte (Opera Lyrica, 2012), and sang the role of Una Conversa in Suor Angelica for Talent Unlimited (2014) under director Aylin Bozok and Musical Director Philip Voldman. In August 2014, Paola was also selected as one of 5 participants in the first International Masterclass with Rockwell Blake in Plattsburgh, NY, culminating in a public performance. She was also a finalist in the Schubert Society of Britain’s Lieder Prize, which took the form of the London Song Festival’s masterclass with Ian Partridge CBE (November 2014). Most recently, Paola has been part of a recital for the Friends of the London Handel Festival at St George’s, Hanover Square, and a gala concert for Opera Lyrica, as part of the 2015 Farley Music Festival (for which she also appeared on BBC Radio Wiltshire). Paola currently studies singing with Susan Roberts and Rosa Mannion. Alongside her singing career, Paola is Artistic Director of Opera Lyrica, a company which aims to give performance opportunities to musicians at the beginning of their careers, as well as a freelanc director. She is also a regular lecturer for Opera Prelude, a charity which allows singers to lecture on topics relating to opera of their choosing. Paola teaches singing to local children and adults in her hometown of Oxford.
[An] impressive performance.
