Veena Akama-Makia

Cameroonian/Ugandan-American mezzo-soprano Veena Akama-Makia joined the Jette Parker Artists Programme in the 2023/24 Season. She is a graduate of the Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and the young artist programmes at Chicago Opera Theater and San Francisco Opera. For Chicago Opera Theater she has performed the roles of Nancy (Albert Herring), Kendra (The Cook-Off), Tawny Betty (Quamino’s Map) and Tree Spirit (The Beekeeper). For San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program she has performed the role of Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte) and was soloist in the Merola Grand Finale. Akama-Makia won the 2022 Encouragement Award from the Laffont Competition Illinois District and the Virginia Cooper Maier Award in the 2022 Musicians Club of Women Vocal Competition. Her 2023/24 Royal Opera roles included Giovanna (Rigoletto), Echo (Hansel and Gretel), Second Maid (Elektra), Kate Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), La Mère (Larmes de couteau) and The Queen (Full Moon in March), and for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Marta (Iolanta). 2024/25 Royal Opera roles include Herdswoman (Jenůfa), Mércèdes (Carmen) and Inès (Il trovatore).