Mezzo-soprano Maya Amir specializes in historically informed performance of baroque operas from the 17th and 18th centuries – her subject of passion. As a recitalist, she also integrates original compositions in her native tongue, Hebrew, as well as various world music.
Winner of Third Prize 2018 Froville International Baroque Singing Competition and Silver Prize of 2018 Manhattan International Music Competition, the mezzo took part in the 2019 Carnegie Hall master classes of Joyce Didonato and became a member of the Académie Musicale Philippe Jaroussky from 2021 until 2022.
After meeting countertenor Andreas Scholl in 2017, she considers him as one of her appreciated mentors.
Graduate of Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in the class of Rosa Dominguez, HMT Leipzig in the class of Elvira Dreßen and Tel Aviv University in the class of Efrat Ben-Nun. Member of Académie Musicale Philippe Jaroussky 2021-22, 2019 Joyce Didonato's Carnegie Hall master classes. Among her roles: Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Aminta (L`Olimpiade), Piacere (Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno), Riccardo (ll Trionfo dell`Onore), the title- role of Rodeldina (Rodelinda) as well as the title-role of Alcina (Alcina).
Her appearances include a recital tour dedicated to Antonio Vivaldi under the baton of Andres Mustonen accompanied by Barrocade Ensemble in Teatro Ristori Verona, Venice, Israel and Estonia. Other appearances include concerts at Bach Archiv Leipzig, Gare du Nord Basel, Arvo Pärt Center, Kadriorg Palace Tallinn and La Seine Musicale. Her festival appearances include Festtage Alter Musik Basel, Abu Gosh Festival, Glasperlenspiel Festival and Varaždin Baroque Evenings.
2023 held debuts in place for Maya, among others at Teatro Ristori Baroque Festival Verona, a recital dedicated to Manuel de Falla accompanied by Ensemble ApérOHR Switzerland as well as concert engagements with Barrocade Ensemble, Ensemble La Phoenix Basel, Ensemble Piris Eliyahu, Ensemble Avventura Barocca, Kölner Akademie and Hortus Musikus.
In 2024, Maya tours a concert programme called “Handel Love Stories” in Israel alongside countertenor Andreas Scholl and the Tel Aviv Soloist Ensemble under the direction of Barak Tal. Before leaving for the Estonian Viljandi vanamuusika Festival in July to perform a concert dedicated to Italian Opera with Hortus Musicus under the baton of Andres Mustonen, Maya will give another two concerts in Israel, one called “Summer Love Songs” alongside Barrocade Ensemble and countertenor Yaniv D’or under the musical direction of Amit Tiefenbrunn, the other a concert displaying the programme of her 2022 CD production “Night on the Waters” alongside Trio Barrocade. With her ensemble Avventura Barocca, Maya will perform another two concerts in Estonia, one at Glasperlenspiel Festival and one more at Viljandi vanamuusika Festival with Andres Mustonen as guest violinist. Maya will conclude her season with the role of Abra in a staged production of Vivaldi’s Juditha Triumphans by Tomáš Ondrej Pilar at the Czech Znojmo Music Festival where she will perform alongside Czech Ensemble Baroque under the musical direction of Roman Válek.
In 2022, Maya has released her first live album Night on the Waters which presents Mediterranean compositions influenced by classical, Spanish and Arabic music, written and composed by her mother, Aviva Amir, and herself.
In 2024, Maya established her period instrument ensemble Avventura Barocca in Basel.
