Marie Vassiliou

Lyric soprano and Professor of Voice at the Royal Academy of Music and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, celebrated for her versatility across Baroque, Romantic, and contemporary repertoire.

Described as a 'musician's singer', she brings depth of musical understanding and insight to every performance. She currently serves as Professor of the Vocal Faculty at both the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she has developed a multidisciplinary approach to vocal training.

Vassiliou's performing career has taken her across Europe, North America, and Asia, with appearances at the BBC Proms, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, London Handel Festival, and major venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, and Barbican. She has worked with distinguished conductors including Sir Andrew Davis, Sir David Willcocks, Edward Gardner, and Wayne Marshall, and her performances have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 & 4, Classic FM, and Radio France.

In opera, she has appeared in Austria, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, and the USA, with roles including Carmen, Dido, Donna Elvira, Mimi, Pamina, Violetta, and Anne Trulove. As a Baroque specialist, she has performed at the Palermo Scarlatti and Eisenstadt Haydn festivals, with Handelian roles including Emira, Mirtillo, Poppea, and Theodora. She has established herself as a leading interpreter of contemporary music, premiering works by composers including Julian Anderson, George Benjamin, Anthony Gilbert, Sir Michael Tippett, Judith Weir, and Errollyn Wallen.

Vassiliou studied at the Royal College of Music with joint principal studies in singing and viola, winning the prestigious Tagore Gold Medal. She furthered her training with Heather Harper, Martin Isepp, and Janice Chapman. She holds an MA in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from the University of London, and her research into fearless performance, mindful meditation, and improvisation informs her holistic approach to vocal pedagogy.