Home    Biography    Look   Listen    Calendar    Contact

Biography







Aina Miyagi Magnell, Mezzo Soprano, is a Master of Arts student at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Since being at Guildhall she has been a part of several opera productions including singing the role of Zweite Dame in Zauberflöte (Nevill Holt) Pang in Turandot (Grimeborn Festival) Hänsel in Hänsel & Gretel, Siebel in Faust and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier (Guildhall Scenes) Der Boy in Kurt Weill’s Der Zar lässt sich photographieren (Silk Street Theatre) and Prince Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus (Silk Street Music Hall).

Aina is a Josephine Baker Trust Artist, mentee with Pegasus Opera Company and joined Opera Studio Leipzig for their Autumn Seminars 2023 where she also was awarded the Opera & Zarzuela Competition Prize for her outstanding achievements.

She has previously studied at Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser, Södra Latins Gymnasium, Birkagården Folkhögskola and Vadstena sång- och pianoakademi, Sweden. With a background in classical ballet, jazz, and modern dance Aina has been praised for her unique stage presence and great experience in physical expression, both subtle as well as dramatic. Her decade long studies at Base23 Stockholm Dance Academy was under the tutalage of Anneli Alhanko, Hans Marklund, Therese Carlsson and others.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Aina started choir school at age 10. Her first encounter with opera was at age 12 when she sang in the children’s ensemble of Queen of Spades at the Royal Opera House, Stockholm. She continued singing at the Royal Opera House in Carmen. Her first role debute was in 2012 when singing Third Boy in Zauberflöte at the inaguration of Stavanger Concert Hall, Norway.

More recently Aina was a finalist in the Opera & Zarzuela Award in San Sebastían, Franz Schubert Institute Lied Competition as well as Susan Longfield Award. She sang in the chamber choir of Dallapiccola’s “Il prigioniero” with London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Antonio Pappano in Barbican Concert Hall, a concert with BBC Radio 3 reciting Sibelius’ melodramas and chorus in Vaughan-Williams’ “Sir John in Love” at Opera Holland Park

Aina is a keen recitalist and sang as a soloist in Mozart’s C-minor Mass in Flensburg and Eckernförde, Germany, Songs at Six: Richard Strauss (Milton Court Concert Hall), and as an alto soloist in Händel’s Messiah, Sheffield Victoria City Hall.

In Autumn 2024 season Aina is returning to Stockholm for a contract with Folkoperan

Aina is grateful for the generous support of Gillian and Freddie Martin Award, Sixten Gemzéus Scholarship, Stiftelsen AAA and Helge Ax:son Johnsons stiftelsen.








ABOUT AINA


Described as possessing a warm and vibrant sound and praised for her elegant yet expressive and playful interpretations, Swedish-Japanese mezzo-soprano Aina Miyagi Magnell recently graduated from her Master of Arts at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London.

She has been part of several opera productions including singing the role of Second Lady in “Zauberflöte” with Nevill Holt Festival 2024, Pang in “Turandot” (Arcola Theatre, Grimeborn Festival 2023) Hänsel in “Hänsel and Gretel”, Octavian in “Die Rosenkavalier” and Siebel in “Faust” (Guildhall Scenes), Der Boy in Kurt Weill’s “Der Zar lässt sich photographieren” (Silk Street Theatre) and Prince Orlovsky in “Die Fledermaus” (Silk Street Music Hall). Aina has also performed in venues such as Opera Holland Park with British Youth Opera, Barbican Concert Hall with London Symphony Orchestra and Milton Court Concert Hall for BBC Radio 3.


Aina is currently singing with the Stockholm Volksoper, Sweden, in their commissioned opera “Herr Arnes Pennigar” premiering in September 2024.
She is a Josephine Baker Trust artist, part of Pegasus Opera Company’s Mentorship Programme as well as Opera Studio Leipzig Autumn Seminar Season 2023. She is a keen recital and oratorio singer, appearing in venues across UK, Germany and Sweden.






“Her natural dark mezzo-soprano voice, with ease in her treble, and her beautiful expression make her a complete artist”
- Opera Studio Leipzig


“She has a beautiful voice with an unusual quality of both richness and depth but pinging brightness... a sensitive actor, who fully engages with the creative process and brings emotional depth to her work.”

- Becca Marriott, The Opera Makers


“And can we talk about the trio of fierce female artists... Ping, Pang, Pong... Their powerhouse voices made the classic arrangements reach new heights.”
- West End Evenings


"... hypnotic melodrama narration... from Stockholm-born Aina Miyagi Magnell, compelling to watch as well as hear.”
  - The Art Desk




Photos by Ben Reason