Anna Belaya – Opera Singer / Nonprofit Executive
I am an opera singer from Ukraine, winner and finalist of many national and international competitions. I have performed in Mexico, Ukraine, Italy, and the United States. I have recorded two solo albums. Nowadays I still keep developing my solo career and give voice lessons at my home studio. Being a philanthropist by nature, I have helped different organizations to raise funds, including the Red Cross, SD Opera, and PLA Opera, as well as my own country Ukraine since 2022. Currently, I also serve on the Board of PLA Opera as their Executive Director.
About Anna
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have been raised in a family of doctors. My dad still lives and works in Ukraine as a surgeon in a local hospital. Interestingly, my parents hoped that one day I would become a doctor like them. But destiny has obviously made a different choice for me.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I have graduated from two universities in Kyiv, Ukraine: Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and Kyiv Conservatory with two Master’s degrees: one in Linguistics as a Teacher/Interpreter and another one in Opera Performance as an Opera Singer. Nevertheless, I have decided to pursue a professional opera career. Unlike many acclaimed singers, I started my opera journey in Mexico, debuting with Opera de Tijuana and singing lots of concerts in local theaters. During that time I became a fluent speaker in Spanish and learned a great deal of Mexican music, which had a huge impact on me for the rest of my life. After four years there I moved to the US, where I had an opportunity to participate in many competitions, and work with renowned opera stars and teachers like Carol Neblett, Bill Shuman, and Brian Asawa, among many others. Here my career has received significant growth. I have sung with many orchestras like the San Diego Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, Grossmont Symphony, Los Angeles Balalaika Orchestra, etc., and performed numerous concerts. Up to today I keep developing my career and hope to bring it to a bigger level. In the last couple of years, I have become a big supporter of our second professional opera company in San Diego which is mainly targeted at nurturing a younger generation of opera singers – PLA Opera. Currently, I serve as their Executive Director for the Company. As far as what I love most about my career, is that it is extremely exciting!! They say: “Do what puts your soul on fire”. Well, I can say that about my career and everything that involves opera projects.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Please, do believe in yourself and follow your dreams no matter what.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
It’s always hard to see the future. I think, we build our future here and now. So, based on my reality, I hope I will sing more opera roles with big opera companies in the future, record another CD, and help PLA Opera become a successful and highly acclaimed company in Southern California.
Read about Anna Belaya at Faces of San Diego
