Maya Charles Sedergreen: Opera, Early Music and the Classical Voice Today

In this episode, I’m joined by Melbourne-based soprano Maya Charles Sedergreen to talk about opera, early music, and the place of classical voice in a contemporary music landscape.We discuss Maya’s musical upbringing and family lineage, her path into classical singing, and her studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, where she recently completed her honours year in classical voice. Maya shares insights into her training, working closely with her teacher Suzanne Johnston, and developing a strong technical and artistic foundation as a young opera singer.Our conversation explores her performance experiences with BK Opera and Victorian Opera, concert work including Bach’s St Matthew Passion, and her growing interest in Early Music. We also talk about the realities of pursuing a career in opera today, how classical singers find relevance and space in modern performance contexts, and what draws Maya so strongly to historical repertoire.A thoughtful discussion about craft, tradition, and carving out a future in classical music.