Galina Ivannikova is originally from the Ukraine, where she was a leading Mezzo-Soprano at the Kiev Conservatory Opera and Nikolaev Musical Theatre and performed such roles as the title role of Carmen by Bizet, Azucena in Il Trovatore and Maddalena in Rigoletto by Verdi, Lubasha in the Tsar’s Bride by Rimsky-Korsakov, Olga in Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, Marfa in Khovanshchina by Mussorgsky. During this period she was also a soloist in the State Hall of Organ and Chamber Music in Kiev and the Nikolaev’s Chamber Orchestra.
In April 2011 she performed the leading role of Amneris in Verdi’s Aida with New Jersey Verismo Opera and in October 2010 she performed the leading role of Amneris with Opera Memphis, TN. She has also sung the roles of Marthe in Gounod’s Faust, The Witch and Mother in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and covered Azucena in Verdi’s Il Trovatore and Dama-in-Waiting in Verdi’s Macbeth. In May 2011 she sang with the National Wagner Society, Washington, D.C.
Ms. Ivannikova Immigrated to the United States in 2002, where she was sponsored by First Baptist Church in Olive Branch, MS. She is currently in the process of completing her doctorate in vocal performance at the University of Memphis, where she has performed the roles of Marcellina in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Prince Orlovsky in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. She is also a first place winner of the University of Memphis Concerto Competition.