.jpg)
About Meitar Opera Studio
About Meitar Opera Studio

Since its establishment, the Meitar Opera Studio program has provided unique training for young talented Israeli opera singers who are graduates of music academies. For two years, program participants gain experience in the multifaceted work offered by a professional opera house: working with leading directors and conductors, learning new roles, receiving guidance from professional musical and stage staff, language and diction instruction, acting and movement training, and more. During the training program, the Studio produces many productions through which young singers gain expertise in stage work, use of scenery, props and costumes, and experience opera work as an ensemble. Additionally, studio members participate in children’s opera hours and the Israeli Opera’s educational activities throughout the country for diverse audiences.
In its 23 years of existence, the Meitar Opera Studio program has proven its importance in nurturing opera talent and new generations of outstanding Israeli singers. Over one hundred Studio graduates to date have appeared in dozens of roles on the Israeli Opera stage, worked with leading international artists, represented the Opera in numerous concerts in Israel and abroad, and performed a varied operatic repertoire with Israel’s finest orchestras.
Many Meitar Opera Studio graduates, among them Oded Reich, Alla Vasilevitski, Hila Fahima, David Bizic, Hila Baggio, Rachel Frenkel, Yael Levita, Anat Czarny, Galina Benevic, Ira Bertman, Na'ama Goldman, Tal Ganor, Michal Doron, Noa Danon, Shiri Hershkovitz, Nofar Yacobi, Shahar Lavi, Dana Marbach, Daniela Skorka, Yair Polishook, Yasmin Levy-Ellentuck and others, regularly perform in leading European opera houses and manage impressive careers.
A special thank you to the Zvi and Ofra Meitar Family Foundation for their long-standing generous support, which enabled the establishment of the Studio and its continued success. Our heartfelt gratitude is also extended to all of the Studio’s supporters, Irith Rappoport, scholarship donors: Susanne & René Braginsky, the Nacht Family, Porter Foundation, Ronen Foundation and Kena and Zalman Shoval.
The Music Director of the Meitar Opera Studio is David Sebba. The Artistic Director of the Meitar Opera Studio is Shirit Lee Weiss.
Members of the Meitar Opera Studio, 2024/25 are:
Shlomit Leah Kovalski, Tamara Nishri, Veronika Odintsov, Audelia Shallev, Romi Zelig – soprano
Kirill Odintsov, Roi Witz – baritone
For information about joining the Studio, please contact Sarah Stoianov-Cohen, Education & Opera Studio Administrator: Sarah@israelopera.org.il
Opera Studio Members since its inception:
2020-2021
Tom Cohen, soprano
Stas Davidov, tenor
Ksenia Glonty, soprano
Noam Heinz, baritone
Sivan Keren, soprano
Yarden Kiperman, mezzo soprano
Tamara Navoth, mezzo soprano
Karina Radzion, mezzo soprano
Rona Shrira, mezzo soprano
2019-2020
Tom Ben Ishai, soprano
Shira Cohen, soprano
Tom Cohen, soprano
Sivan Keren, soprano
Tamara Navoth, mezzo soprano
Karina Radzion, mezzo soprano
Rona Shrira, mezzo soprano
2018-2019Tom Ben Ishai, soprano
Veronika Brook, soprano
Shira Cohen, soprano
Efrat Hacohen Bram, soprano
Pnini Leon Grubner, bass
Liat Lidor, sopranoYuli Rorman, mezzo sopranoShaked Strul, soprano
2017-2018 Maya Bakstansky, mezzo-soprano
Veronika Brook, soprano
Efrat Hacohen Bram, soprano Zlata Khershberg, mezzo soprano
Pnini Leon Grubner, bass
Liat Lidor, soprano Yuli Rorman, mezzo soprano
Shaked Strul, soprano
2016-2017 Irene Alhazov, soprano Maya Bakstansky, mezzo-soprano
Michal Doron, mezzo-soprano
Tal Ganor, soprano Galina Khlyzova, soprano Efrat Vulfsons, soprano Nofar Yacobi, soprano
2015-2016 Irene Alhazov, soprano Hanna Bardos, mezzo soprano Gitai Fisher, tenor Tal Ganor, soprano Galina Khlyzova, soprano Tali Ketzef, soprano Shahar Lavi, mezzo sopranoOsher Sebbag, tenor Efrat Vulfsons, soprano Nofar Yacobi, soprano |
2014-2015 Anton Alexeev , baritone Tal Bergman , soprano Eitan Drori , tenor Goni Knaani , soprano Tali Ketzef , soprano Shahar Lavi , mezzo soprano Yair Polishook , baritone Nitzan Yogev-Alon , mezzo soprano |
2013-2014 Anton Alexeev , baritone Tal Bergman , soprano Anat Czarny , mezzo soprano Eitan Drori, tenor Goni Knaani , soprano Yair Polishook , baritone Daniela Skorka , soprano Yakov Strizhak , bass Nitzan Yogev-Alon , mezzo soprano |
2012-2013 Hadar Atari, soprano Shay Bloch , mezzo soprano Anat Czarny , mezzo soprano Hadar Iticovici, soprano Shiri Hershkovitz , soprano Oded Reich , bass-baritone Yael Sayag , soprano Daniela Skorka , soprano |
2011-2012 Hadar Atari , soprano Shay Bloch , mezzo soprano Na'ama Goldman , mezzo soprano Avigail Gurtler , soprano Shiri Hershkovitz , soprano Dika Philosoph , soprano Oded Reich , bass-baritone Yael Sayag , soprano |
2010-2011 Efrat Ashkenazi , soprano Agam Englard-Saar , soprano Na'ama Goldman , mezzo soprano Avigail Gurtler , soprano Nadav Inbar , tenor Dika Philosoph , soprano Dilya Reinina , pianist Alla Vasilevitsky , soprano Shlomi Wagner , baritone Yifat Weisskopf , mezzo-soprano Affiliated singer: Given Nkosi , tenor |
2009-2010 Efrat Ashkenazi , soprano Hila Fahima , soprano Yair Goren , baritone Mima Millo , soprano Dilya Reinina , pianist Shira Shafir , soprano Alla Vasilevitsky , soprano Yifat Weisskopf , mezzo-soprano Ayala Zimbler , mezzo-soprano |
2008-2009 Zohar Agmon , mezzo-soprano Yair Goren , baritone Rinat Goldmann , soprano Lilia Gretsova , soprano Limor Ilan , mezzo-soprano Mima Millo , soprano Maria NIkitin , pianistShira Shafir , soprano Ayala Zimbler , mezzo-soprano |
2008-2007 Rinat Goldmann , mezzo-Soprano Lilia Gretsova , soprano Limor Ilan , mezzo-Soprano Yasmine Levi Ellentuck , soprano Gabriel Loewenheim , baritone Ville Lignell , bass-baritone Maria NIkitin , pianist Ilona Toivis , mezzo-soprano |
2007-2006 Noa Danon , soprano Rachel Frankel , mezzo-soprano Yasmine Levi Ellentuck , soprano Yael Levita , soprano Ville Lignell , bass-baritone Gabriel Loewenheim , baritone Ilona Toivis , mezzo-soprano |
2006-2005 Bat Ami Osipov , soprano Alexandra Chebat , mezzo-soprano Shirly Hod , soprano Anastasia Klevan , soprano Dana Marbach , soprano Yevgeny Nezhinetz , baritone Shira Raz , mezzo-soprano |
2005-2004 Bat Ami Osipov , soprano Alexandra Chebat , mezzo-soprano Shirly Hod , soprano Anastasia Klevan , soprano Enas Massalha , soprano Yevgeny Nezhinetz , baritone Shira Raz , mezzo-soprano |
2004-2003 Hila Baggio , soprano Yelena Fuchs , soprano Amit Friedman, baritone Eleonar Liveney, mezzo-soprano Enas Massalha , soprano Ana Virovlansky , soprano Marina Zolotov , mezzo-soprano |
2003-2002 Hila Baggio , soprano Ira Bertman , soprano David Bizic , baritone Yelena Fuchs , soprano Noam Talmon , baritone Marina Zolotov , mezzo-soprano |
2002-2000 Ira Bertman , soprano Sharon Dvorin , soprano Yulia Plakhina , mezzo-soprano Michael Riskin, tenor Svetlana Sandler , mezzo-soprano Noam Talmon , baritone Andrei Trifonov , bass |