Lal Besir

• Herbert Zipper Scholarship at Colburn School of Music
• Soloist in OCSA's 2024 production of Performing with the Pros
• Selected as a chorus/villager in Parnassus Society 2024 Opera: Donizetti - La Fille Du Régiment at the Soka Performing Arts Center
• Selected as lead, Kaylee, in OCSA's 2024 Opera Production of Speed Dating Tonight
• Selected to perform a solo at Colburn School's Winter concert
• Selected to perform a solo at Colburn School's Spring concert
• Performs at least once a semester in Colburn's Friday Night Recital
• Sang solo parts in Colburn Concert Choir's 2024 Collaboration Concert at the Ambassador Auditorium, and San Diego Concert at the University of San Diego in the Shiley Theater
• Nominated by Ryan Reithmeier for the OC Register Award
• Selected to participate in a masterclass with Tenor Arnold Livingston Geis
• Performed in several musicals across Ventura County
• Will be attending the ArtsBridge Summer Program
• Will be performing at the Kennedy Center with Colburn's Concert Choir during the Memorial Day weekend in May, 2025

Lal Besir is a passionate young soprano from Irvine, California. Growing up in a musical household, Lal discovered her passion for singing at a very young age, as she was cast in several musicals across Ventura County. She has been taking vocal and music theory lessons at the prestigious Colburn School of Music for the past 4 years, where she switched She is also a part of Colburn's Concert Choir, and has been featured in their performances on numerous occasions. She studies with Michael Stevens, the Chair of Colburn's Vocal Department. Lal received the highest achievement based scholarship at Colburn, the Herbert Zipper Scholarship in 2022, which allows her to record in several halls, work with a pianist, and take all her classes, all covered by the program.

As she struggled to focus on her growing love for opera in a regular high school last year, Lal auditioned and was accepted into the Orange County School of the Arts as a Junior, and she and her family moved 2 hours away to Irvine, California. As she was not exposed to the right environment to cultivate her art, Lal has just started to participate in competitions. She is looking forward to sharing her love for glorious music, and is always looking to grow and develop. She is also very academically driven, enjoys school, loves spending time with friends and family, and really loves to travel! As an independent and adventurous young woman, Lal went on a solo trip to Europe last summer (staying with distant family of course!)