The Wexford Festival Opera have revealed that 21 participants will be joining the 2026/2027 Wexford Factory Academy…
The Wexford Factory Academy is the Festival’s renowned professional development programme designed to nurture the next generation of singers, pianists and stage managers.
Founded in 2020 by the Festival’s Artistic Director, Rosetta Cucchi, Wexford Factory participants embark on a bespoke two-year journey, engaging in a professional development academy held in the award-winning National Opera House.
The programme expanded in 2022 to include répétiteurs alongside singers, and stage managers were added in 2025. Since its launch, the programme has supported 46 singers, 6 pianists and 2 stage managers.
SINGERS:
Seán Tester, Eva Maria Kavanagh, Éadaoin Hassett, Sophie Whelan, Eiméar Harper, Catherine Hooper, Deirdre Higgins, Eilís Dexter, Rachael Conaghan, Olha Palazhenko, Yasmin O’Reilly, Timothy Mays, Matthew Mannion, Fraser Robinson, Cuan Durkin and Yuchen Pan.
PIANISTS:
Ellen Jansson, Ella Nagy and Orlaith Sharkey.
STAGE MANAGERS:
Aimee Cullen and Aimee Hartigan.
A highlight of this year’s programme will be their participation in The First Festival, a world premiere written by one of Ireland’s most celebrated novelists, Colm Tóibín, and composer Alberto Caruso.
The Wexford Factory programme culminates in the annual Wexford Factory Concert at the National Opera House on 27 September 2026.
The concert offers audiences a showcase of the artistry, ambition and potential of the programme’s newest participants.
Jason Redmond
From Gorey, Jason is the owner of Wexford Weekly. He is also a post-primary English and History teacher.
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