British-Belgian mezzo-soprano, Maya Colwell has been praised in the press for performances that “delight with her vivacity”. In 2020, Maya graduated with Distinction from the Masters course at the Royal Academy of Music, where she was awarded the Amanda von Lob Memorial Prize and the Alice Gamble Award. She was a Young Artist on the Serena Fenwick Programme with the British Youth Opera.

She appears regularly in the chorus at Théâtre Royal de La Monnaie, and as a soloist has performed with Ensemble OrQuesta as  Bradamante in their critically acclaimed production of Alcina as part of Grimeborn Festival, and as Ruggiero on tour, as well as appearing as Valetto (L’Incoronazione di Poppea) and Dido (Dido and Aeneas), for Royal Academy Opera, she appeared as Frantik in The Cunning Little Vixen and for Rogue Opera, Zerlina (Don Giovanni).

Maya premiered the title role of Dorian Gray in a new opera by Oliver Bowes to great acclaim, in a production at the historic Bedford in Balham. In the spring of the same year, she also made her debut as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Hilary Davan-Wetton at Cadogan Hall, where she recently returned, again performing with the RPO.

As well as performing on the opera stage, Maya is deeply passionate about French song, with a particular interest in the music of Debussy and Berlioz, and enjoys programming recitals that bring these composers together with contemporary music.