Chinese-Australian mezzo-soprano Shikara Ringdahl is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and holds a Bachelor of Music. She debuted with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 2018 singing Elgar’s Sea Pictures Op. 37 under the baton of Benjamin Northey. She was the first vocal soloist to ever join the SSO on a regional tour. In the same year, Shikara was a resident Young Artist with the Israeli Opera’s Meitar Opera Studio.

In concert and recital Shikara has performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, and Ensemble Q.

 

Opera credits include Der Komponist in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos conducted by Simone Young AM, Larina in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin conducted by Richard Hetherington, and Mrs Herring in Britten’s Albert Herring directed by award winning film director Bruce Beresford. In 2019, Shikara was personally invited to study at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden by the Head of Music, Richard Hetherington. This trip was generously supported by Arts Queensland and the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School Scholarship.

 

Outside of her strict classical voice discipline, Shikara collaborates with international Australian visual artist Hannah Quinlivan on large scale site-specific installations that incorporate light, sound and movement.

 

Shikara is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at Queensland University of Technology.