Syrah Torii

Japanese-Australian mezzo-soprano Syrah Torii holds a Master of Music (Opera Performance) from the Melbourne Conservatorium. She was a member of Melbourne Opera’s Richard Divall Emerging Artists Programme, and the 2023 winner of the Victorian Opera Emerging Artist Prize.

In 2024, Syrah covered The Voice of the Nightingale in the world premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Oscar (The Australian Ballet). She also sang La Frugola in Il tabarro (Victorian Opera for Sydney Festival), and Suzy/Lolette in La rondine (Victorian Opera). Her other credits with the company include Idomeneo (Idamante cover), Capriccio (Clairon study cover), Cheryomushki (Masha), and Il mago di Oz (Wicked Witch of the West cover). For Melbourne Opera, Syrah participated in The Marriage of Figaro workshops (Cherubino).

Syrah has appeared in two world premieres with Victorian Opera – in Richard Mills’ Galileo (Diavolo 1) in 2023, and in Richard Mills’ The Butterfly Lovers in 2022.

Syrah has appeared as a guest soloist with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra (Händel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem), Victoria Chorale (Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël and Vivaldi’s Gloria), the Geelong Chorale (Mozart’s Requiem and Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G minor), Kew Philharmonic Chamber Choir performing the music of Domenico Zipoli, and the Melbourne Conservatorium Choir (Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb). She will soon appear in concert with Orchestra Victoria and Maggie Beer.

Syrah was awarded the John Wegner Award in the 2024 Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award. She is the current recipient of the Paulette Bisley Opera Scholarship and the Eleanor Blakemore Opera Society Scholarship with Melba Opera Trust.