Praised as “hilarious” and “vocally charming”, Canadian Mezzo Soprano, Tessa Fackelmann, is rapidly gaining recognition for her warm, expressive tone and magnetic stage presence. In 2025, she made her role debut as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with Sarasota Opera, earning praise for her nuanced interpretation and natural comedic timing.

In the 2025/2026 season, Fackelmann brings her artistry to a range of exciting projects across Canada and the United States. She joins Edmonton Opera for Bravi! Opera’s Greatest Hits, followed by her house debut in the role of Karolka in Janáček’s Jenůfa with Opéra de Montréal. She will make both her house and role debut as The Fox in Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince with The Dallas Opera. Beyond the opera stage, she embarks on a recital tour through the Yukon, sharing an intimate program in some of Canada’s most breathtaking and remote communities.

She is an alumna of The Santa Fe Opera’s prestigious Apprentice Singer Program, where she performed as the Kitchen Girl in Rusalka (2023) and Ruth in the world premiere of The Righteous (2024), showcasing her versatility across both standard and contemporary repertoire.

Fackelmann was a National Semifinalist in the 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and that same year received multiple accolades including the Rumbold Vocal Prize from Edmonton Opera and the Grand Jury Prize from Opéra de Montréal.

Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Fackelmann brings a grounded, modern sensibility to her work, balancing technical finesse with genuine emotional connection. Whether in classic Mozart or bold new works, she continues to captivate audiences with her artistry, depth, and charisma.

With a strong stage presence and a voice described as both agile and richly coloured, Tessa Fackelmann is an exciting mezzo-soprano at the forefront of the next generation of operatic talent.

In the 2022-2023 season, she competed in the Talent Gala with the Opéra de Montréal’s Atelier Lyrique at the Maison Symphonique in Montréal, Québec. Later that year, Tessa made her debut at the Santa Fe Opera under the baton of Lidiya Yankovskaya singing the role of The Kitchen Girl in Dvorak’s Rusalka. In addition, Tessa was also seen as Maria Stuarda in Donizetti’s infamous “Confrontation Scene” in the apprentice scenes programme.

Previously, as a studio artist at Wolf Trap Opera, she made her mainstage debut as The Bridesmaid in their 2022 production of Der Freischütz. Tessa is an alumnus of Manitoba Opera’s Digital Emerging Artist Program (2021) and Opera NUOVA (2019).

She received a Master of Music (2023) from Rice University under the tutelage of Nova Thomas and her Bachelor of Fine Arts (2019) and Artist Diploma (2020) from the University of Ottawa with Professor Christiane Riel.

In her spare time, Tessa enjoys rollerblading, traveling, watching hockey, karaoke and water colour painting (even though she isn’t very good at it).