ABOUT

With a voice described as warm, expressive, and radiant, Slovenian soprano Jerica Steklasa [Yeritza Ssteklassa] is recognised for her compelling stage presence and a vibrant, refined musicality marked by her deep, communicative connection to the stage — praised by Das Opernglas Magazine for her 'enorm starke Bühnenpräsenz' and 'spürbare Lust am Musizieren'.

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Her operatic debut as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte (Sydney, 2013) marked the beginning of a flourishing international career. Since then, she has brought to life a wide range of leading roles across Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain, including Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Adele / Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Silvia in L’isola disabitata, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Lisette in La Rondine, Ännchen in Der Freischütz, Marie in Der Carneval in Rom, Dorina in L’impresario delle Canarie, Micaëla in Carmen, and Euridice in Orfeo ed Euridice.

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The performances have taken her to esteemed venues including the Wiener Musikverein, Theater an der Wien, Konzerthaus Vienna, Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, and Alte Oper Frankfurt, as well as to renowned stages across Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, the USA, and her native Slovenia — including Gallus Hall at Cankarjev dom and the Slovenian Philharmonic Hall in Ljubljana. In 2017, she was invited to appear as a soloist at Vienna’s iconic Hofburg Silvesterball, one of the city’s most prestigious New Year’s celebrations.

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Jerica Steklasa’s artistry has been recognized through prestigious international awards, including prizes at the Hilde Zadek Competition in Vienna, the Osaka International Music Competition, the Riccardo Zandonai Competition in Italy, and the Kaleidoscope Competition in Los Angeles, among others — affirming her status as a soprano of exceptional promise and accomplishment.

 

Her acclaimed performances with leading orchestras—including the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, Thüringen Philharmonie, and Slovenia’s esteemed Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra—under the baton of distinguished conductors such as Dan Ettinger, Lorenzo Viotti, Enrico Calesso, and Nayden Todorov, among others, have demonstrated Jerica’s versatility and expressive depth while captivating audiences worldwide with her luminous voice.

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Highlighting her growing artistic development, Jerica has refined her craft under the guidance of renowned artists including Thomas Hampson and Melanie Diener, with whom she worked at the intensive Internationale Opernwerkstatt Waiblingen program focused on stagecraft and vocal excellence. She was also selected for the prestigious Lied Academy at the Heidelberger Frühling Festival (2020/21), where she worked closely again with Thomas Hampson. Her short music film “Kennst du das Land?”—part of the Opus Klassik-nominated LiedMe! project—was widely praised for its emotional depth and nuanced interpretation, showcasing her artistry beyond the operatic stage. Further artistic growth came through participation in international programs such as the Mediterranean Opera Studio & Festival in Sicily, where she worked with mentors including Nelly Miricioiu and Tanja Baumgartner, as well as through coaching from Dunja Vejzović, all of which enhanced her stylistic versatility and stage readiness across a broad operatic repertoire.

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Jerica Steklasa began her musical journey at the age of six, initially studying violin and piano before beginning vocal training at thirteen at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet in Ljubljana. Early on, her exceptional promise was acknowledged with the Škerjančeva Honorary Award from the same institution, a prestigious recognition granted during her final year of high school. She then pursued her studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (mdw), where she earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees—studying voice with Claudia Visca and further honing her interpretive skills in the Lied & Oratorio class under Charles Spencer.

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Now based in Vienna, Jerica maintains a vibrant performing schedule, regularly appearing with the esteemed Wiener Residenz Orchestra while continuously broadening her international presence. With a voice marked by emotional depth and technical finesse, alongside an unwavering dedication to her artistry, she is forging a distinctive and compelling path in the classical music world—captivating audiences with authenticity, elegance, and artistic excellence.

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