Nigerian-American soprano Francesca Chiejina wins Critics’ Circle award

Chiejina triumphed in the voice category, determined by a panel of 90 music critics and journalists.

Since 1913, the Critics’ Circle has served as the national professional body for critics in Britain, covering dance, drama, film, music, books, and visual arts. The music section of the Critics’ Circle promotes criticism, protects members’ interests and offers social opportunities while supporting the progression of the arts.

“Our annual Young Talent Awards highlight the wealth of emerging talent across the country, and celebrate artists for whom 2023 was a notable breakthrough year,” the Critics’ Circle said.

Her latest accolade places her among renowned British sopranos Louise Alder and Mary Bevan, Welsh soprano Natalya Romaniw, and British bass William Thomas, all previous winners of the prize.

Other winners in the 2023 music category are Alim Beisembayev (Young Talent – Piano), Johan Dalene (Young Talent – Instrument) and Dinis Sousa (Young Talent – Conductor) and Scottish Opera’s Il trittico (Outstanding achievement in Opera)

Born in Nigeria and raised in Michigan, Chiejina began singing at university. After training at the Guildhall School and the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker programme, she took on notable roles with English Touring Opera and Nevill Holt Opera. In 2023, she excelled in Scottish Opera’s Il trittico, particularly as Lauretta. She also impressed with Alban Berg’s early Lieder, Strauss’s Four Last Songs, and a performance as the title character in Semele at Blackheath Halls Opera.

She has contributed to albums like Transfigured by Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective and Our Indifferent Century with Natalie Burch. She is also behind The Kobo Arts Foundation, which seeks to help Nigerians pursue education overseas, with the expectation that they will eventually come back and share their expertise.

“I don’t know if I have the power to make opera popular in Africa,” she told This Day Live about the potential of opera in Africa back in November. “Trying to do this art form that I love with excellence will naturally attract people and when they see people like me, an African, doing it, they might feel like they can do it as well. Because the people that inspired me when I was younger (Jessye Norman and Leontyne Price) I saw them singing on YouTube and I thought I could give that a go, I can do it too. So I’m hoping to pass on the same gift.”