Mezzo-soprano Maria Willis is a graduate from the Royal College of Music where she attained a Master’s degree with distinction as a Sheila Saam Memorial Scholar and supported by the Josephine Baker Trust. Since completing her studies, Maria has performed in the Glyndebourne Festival Chorus in their summer and autumn seasons (2023-2025) and been a young artist at Opera Holland Park (2025) playing Watkins in Itch (Dove). She is currently an Alvarez Young Artist in the Garsington Festival Chorus performing in their productions of Der Rosenkavalier and La Traviata, in which she is also covering the role of Flora and will perform the role in full for their OperaFirst young artist performance.

During her studies, Maria performed the role of Un Pâtre in L’Enfant et les sortiléges & covered the role of La Duchessa in La bella dormente nel bosco (RCM Double Bill), Cupid in Orpheus in the Underworld, and covered Stewardess in Flight. Roles include: Ronnie O’Sullivan (Gilbert Feathers/RCM), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel/Waterperry Opera Festival), Dido (Dido and Aeneas/Waterperry Opera Festival), and 2nd Lady (Die Zauberflöte/Waterperry Opera Festival). Highlights from oratorio and concert performances include: Sea Pictures (Elgar), Durufle’s Requiem, McDowell’s Magnificat, Beethoven’s Mass in C, and Petite Messe Solennelle (Rossini).