Irish soprano Hannah O’Brien was a Wexford Festival Factory Artist for the 2022/2023 seasons, where she received the 2023 Danone Young Outstanding Female Artist Award. She returns to the festival main stage this season to sing the roles of Confidant and First Niece in Charles Villiers Stanford’s The Critic and in August, performed the role of Female Chorus in British Youth Opera’s production of The Rape of Lucretia.

Hannah recently made her role debut as Donna Elvira in Hurn Court Opera’s Don Giovanni; described as “powerful, nuanced and persuasive” and “the performance of a seasoned pro”. Other recent roles include Tatiana (L’Aube Rouge/Camille Erlanger), Elvira (L'italiana in Algeri/Rossini), and Nella (Gianni Schicchi/Puccini) in Wexford Festival Opera’s 2023 season and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte/Mozart) with Clonter Opera. Hannah has also performed a number of contemporary roles, including Mary Crawford (Mansfield Park/Dove) with RNCM Opera, Griselda (Cinderella/Alma Deutscher) at Wexford Festival Opera, and Polly in a film adaptation of Kevin O’Connell’s Dreamcatcher with RIAM Opera.

In competition success, Hannah is a 2023 recipient of the Veronica Dunne Bursary for Young Irish Singers, was awarded the song prize at Northern Ireland Opera’s 2022 Glenarm Festival of Voice Competition, and was a recipient of the Gaiety Bursary. She returned to the 2023 Glenarm Festival of Voice to perform the prestigious Londonderry Arms Recital.

A recent alumna of the Royal Northern College of Music, Hannah obtained Distinction in her Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Vocal Studies, studying under Elizabeth Ritchie. She previously studied at The Royal Irish Academy of Music with Sylvia O'Regan and Dr. Dearbhla Collins, where she earned both her Bachelor and Masters of Music Performance.