British-American soprano Shafali Jalota is a Young Artist at the National Opera Studio in London and a Britten-Pears Young Artist. In the 2023/2024 season, she joins English Touring Opera, covering Anne Trulove in THE RAKE’S PROGRESS and as a member of the ensemble in both THE RAKE’S PROGRESS and MANON LESCAUT. Later in the season, she will sing the role of Argene in Pergolesi’s L’OLIMPIADE with Vache Baroque and return to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to join the chorus in TOSCA.
In the 2022/2023 season, Shafali completed her second festival season at Glyndebourne, as Zerlina (cover) in Mariame Clément’s new production of DON GIOVANNI and a member of the prestigious Glyndebourne Chorus. She sang at the Royal Opera House for the first time as a member of the chorus in AIDA, TANNHÄUSER, TURANDOT and TOSCA. With Opera on the Move, she sang the role of Lucy in Menotti’s THE TELEPHONE.
Previous summers were spent singing Romilda in Handel’s SERSE and Giunone in Cavalli’s LA CALISTO with Opera Neo, and Annu in Sankaram’s THUMBPRINT at Chautauqua Opera (cancelled due to COVID-19). With Hampstead Garden Opera, Shafali sang Clori in Cavalli’s L’EGISTO and Susanna in Mozart’s LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, garnering praise for her “radiant and captivating” performance (The Stage). Shafali earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Master’s Degree from the Maryland Opera Studio. While at the Maryland Opera Studio, Shafali sang the role of Rose Maurrant in STREET SCENE and the Toy Fairy in DIE ZAUBERNACHT as part of the Kurt Weill Festival, as well as Countess Almaviva in Mozart’s LE NOZZE DI FIGARO. She also created the role of Mina in Popov’s TOWN HALL, fueling her interest in contemporary opera.
Shafali has received awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship Competitions, the Camille Coloratura Awards, and the Bampton Classical Opera Competition. While at UNC Chapel Hill, Shafali was a Robertson Scholar and a Vollmer Music Scholar, and received the Ferebee Taylor Award from the Chancellor. Shafali is grateful for the support of Opera Prelude, SongEasel, the DEBUT Horizon Programme, and the church of St. Stephens Rochester Row. Shafali’s initial interest in opera was sparked at the age of eleven, when she participated in an educational outreach production of DREAM OF THE PACIFIC at Washington National Opera. Shafali is proud to be of mixed British and Indian heritage.