Sofia Mains

Originally from Mechanicsburg, PA, soprano Sofia Mains is currently pursuing her Bachelors of Music at the Eastman School of Music, where she studies with Katherine Ciesinski.

Sofia most recently performed with OperaViva! as Despina (partial role) in scenes from Così fan tutte (July 2024). An accomplished choral soloist, she has sung Ostiaria in Le Reniement de St. Pierre with the Eastman Repertory Singers, conducted by Hannah Duff (April 2024). She performed in opera scenes concerts in Vienna and Payerbach, Austria with the International Vocal Artists Academy of Payerbach (July/August 2023), including excerpts from Don Giovanni (Zerlina) and Der Freischütz (Ännchen). She has extensive experience as a recitalist, performing in the joint recital 3 Sopranos and a Piano (April 2024) and presenting her solo graduation recital (May 2023). Sofia is an in-demand singer of the National Anthem, and has sung for events including Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day ceremonies, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state championships (2022, 2023), and the International Judo Championships at the New York Athletic Club (March 2023).

Sofia currently sings in the Eastman Chorale (2024-present). She previously sang in the Eastman Repertory Singers (2023-2024), Eastman-University of Rochester Treble Choir (2023-2024), and the Soaring Voices Select Choir at Cumberland Valley High School (2019-2023). She was also selected for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Region 5 (2021) and District 7 (2020, 2021, 2022) choirs.

An experienced competition singer, Sofia is a three-time Finalist in the Schmidt Vocal Arts Competition, Pennsylvania Region (2021, 2022, 2023). She has also been awarded the National School Choral Award (2023), CS Music’s All-State Singer award (2023), and was a Finalist in the Hal Leonard High School Art Song competition (2022).

Sofia has attended summer programs including OperaViva! in Verona, Italy (2024); the International Vocal Artists Academy of Payerbach (2022, 2023) in Payerbach, Austria; the Washington National Opera Institute (2021); the Oberlin Conservatory High School Voice Intensive (2021); and the NYU Summer Classical Voice Intensive (2021). She is a current student of Katherine Ciesinski and previously studied with Anya Fidelia. She has worked with coaches including Joyce Fieldsend, Dr. Brock Tjosvold, Dr. Chelsea Whitaker, and Hemdi Kfir, and has recently sung in masterclasses with Dina Kuznetsova, Kathleen Kelly, and Vladimir Chernov.

Sofia is conversationally fluent in German and actively studies Italian. She is passionate about opera-based community outreach and citizen artistry, and has worked with Washington National Opera to volunteer with preschool students. When Sofia isn’t singing, she enjoys baking, reading, and exploring Rochester, NY, where she currently lives and studies.