Karina Bray
Schwertleite Cover, Erste Norn Cover, Erda Cover Siegfried (RING ‘25)
German-Canadian mezzo-soprano Karina Bray’s previous operatic engagements include Fricka (study cover)/Roβweiβe from Wagner's Die Walküre, Wellgunde/2nd Norn from Wagner's Götterdämmerung, La Ciesca from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, Flora Bervoix from Verdi's La Traviata, Azucena (cover) from Verdi's Il trovatore, Dritte Magd/Erste Magd/die Vertraute in Strauss' Elektra, The Mother from Menotti's The Consul, and Princess Adelaide in Oscar Straus' A Waltz Dream.
Ms. Bray was the recipient of the Richard Wagner Stipendienstiftung, representing Canada in Bayreuth for 2023. In 2022, Ms. Bray was also a participant in the Bayreuther Festspiele Masterclass, chosen along with three other singers internationally to work with Catherine Foster. The Masterclass ended with a concert of Wagner's music in Villa Wahnfried. Ms. Bray has also been awarded many awards in competitions, such as Gold Prive from the Euterpe Musc Awards in 2024, First Place in the Medici International Music Competition in 2024, and Second Place in the BTHVN Wien Competition in 2023.
Before making the transition to mezzo-soprano, Ms. Bray performed as a soprano in leading and supporting roles. Her performances included the titular character of Puccini's Suor Angelica, Anna Maurrant in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene, both for Halifax Summer Opera Festival, Canada - and Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme.
Educated at Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Ms. Bray was awarded an Honours Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance. Living between Germany and North America, Ms. Bray studies with Jean MacPhail in Toronto, Canada. Her previous menotrs include Mignon Dunn from New York City, USA, Gundula Hintz and Ralf Lukas from Berlin, Germany, and Stefan Vinke from Mannheim, Germany.