Soprano Pia Harris (2001) Shares her Life and Career Highlights

Pia Harris (2001) is an internationally acclaimed Australian/Italian soprano opera singer. She trained with the English National Opera and has performed with Opera Australia, Opera Holland Park London, and the New York Lyric Opera. She graduated from the Royal College of Music London as the Aldama Scholar in 2014.

One of Pia’s early defining moments in the arts was her experience at Santa Maria College playing “Miss Stacey”, in Anne of Green Gables for the Year 12 drama production. During her years at Santa Maria College, Pia participated in choir and orchestra for Santa Maria College and Aquinas College.

Pia entertained the idea of going directly to the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts when leaving school but decided on gaining some different life experiences first. This led to Pia nursing for six years. Her caring nature has shown through in her recent volunteering for the COVID-19 call centre. She also has a strong passion for mentoring Indigenous youth who are aspiring singers, mainly in regional Western Australia through Breaksea Opera.

Pia is part of the artistic team at Breaksea; an organisation dedicated to the joyous art of vocal performance. They believe everyone should sing, create and participate and are on a quest to spread the joy of vocal performance across the globe. At Breaksea, they design and deliver projects in collaboration with professional and community organisations.

Pia has led numerous vocal workshops at Breaksea bringing her international experience to regional WA. She performed the role of the whale in Drift in 2018 and Shoal in 2019. In 2020 Pia will hopefully be able to deliver singing workshops as part of the By Other Eyes 2020 program across the South West, Great Southern and Perth metro areas.

Throughout her amazing career, Pia Harris has lived out many of her dreams, having performed around the world in various famous venues. Her absolute favourite memory was performing as Manon in New York Lyric Opera’s production of Manon at Carnegie Hall, New York City. “I had such amazing colleagues and was really proud of the show we produced. Being on that stage was just the most incredible feeling, and it is a definite highlight to date.”

Like many people in the arts industry, Pia’s schedule has been turned upside down this year.  Due to Covid-19, her scheduled productions have been postponed. Pia is embracing the change and instead of singing in London she has been involved in online performances and Zoom singing lessons for students in London.

Throughout Pia’s singing career she has felt there is a strong sense of community in the arts industry and they are committed to continuing in good spirits.

Now at home, Pia feels like she has come full circle back to her hometown and she is enjoying being appreciated by a local audience.