Chelsea Burns

Coming from country Western Australia, Chelsea never imagined opera to be a part of her life. She grew up playing sport with her father and singing in choirs and musicals with her mother and sister. A transformative event for her was the day she saw a touring production of Opera Australia’s Carmen. She was blown away by the music, the voices, the spectacle and the experience.
Pursuing a degree in Classical Music had her falling in love with opera, the music’s story-telling and the complex characters, a passion that was singled out and fostered by her acting teacher. This is one of the reasons that she so admires the artistry of Maria Callas, a true singing actress.
Chelsea has been lucky enough to sing and cover some amazing roles, her favourites; Puccini’s Tosca and Dvorak’s Rusalka. In 2024, Chelsea was able to draw on her extensive dance training as she she also performed as the Second Wood Nymph in a heavily choreographed production of Rusalka.
In 2023, Chelsea won the Sundell American Institute of Musical Studies award, presented by the Opera Foundation for young Australians, which allowed her to study in Austria for two months.
Whenever Chelsea is not singing, you will usually find her at the gym or reading. She loves the mental escape of both and knows that the physical demands of artists today can only be helped by being fit.
Experiences:
Second Wood Sprite – Rusalka (2024) – West Australian Opera
Rusalka (Cover) – Rusalka (2024) – West Australian Opera
Sundell American Institute of Musical Studies Award (2023) – The Opera Foundation for young Australians
Brigitta – Iolanta (2022) – West Australian Opera
Nedda (Cover) – I pagliacci (2021) – West Australian Opera
Fiordiligi (Cover) – Così fan tutte (2020) – West Australian Opera
Lucy – The Telephone (2020) – West Australian Opera
Mother/Witch (Cover) – Hansel and Gretel (2020) – West Australian Opera
Young Artist – West Australian Opera (2020-2022)