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About Sofia

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.

This November, Sofia makes her Eastman Opera Theatre debut as Cunegonde (Candide). She joined the Janiec Opera Company at Brevard Music Center for their 2026 season, singing First Young Maid (Le nozze di Figaro), Doctor 1 (cover)/Chorus (The Falling and the Rising, Redler), and Chorus (H.M.S. Pinafore). Her previous roles include Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro) at the Wiener Festspiele, Jeannette (cover)/Chorus (L’amant anonyme) with Finger Lakes Opera, and Papagena (Die Zauberflöte) with Arizona Lyric Theatre. Her partial roles include Musica (Il palazzo incantato), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), and Despina (Così fan tutte).

Sofia sang Fiona in a scene from Brigadoon in the Janiec Opera Company’s concert An Evening of Lerner and Loewe. During her time at Brevard, she also performed the world premiere of Matthew Hodge’s song cycle Look for a Lovely Thing. Her other concert work includes performing as the Soprano Soloist in Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich (BWV 150) as part of the Eastman Bach Cantata Series (2025) and as Ostiaria in Le Reniement de St. Pierre (Charpentier) with the Eastman Repertory Singers (2024). She has sung the National Anthem for events such as the International Judo Championships at the New York Athletic Club (2023). Sofia has sung with ensembles including Eastman’s renowned Baroque vocal ensemble, Collegium Musicum, directed by Paul O’Dette.

Sofia was a Finalist in the Philharmonic Society of Arlington’s Tannenwald Young Artist Competition (2025). She won Second Prize in the Advanced Junior 1 category of the New York Classical Music Competition (2025) and 3rd Place in Category B2 of the International Mozart Competition Vienna (2024). She placed 3rd in the Second Year Post-High School Treble division of the NATS Finger Lakes Region Competition (2024) and previously was a three-time regional Finalist in the Schmidt Vocal Arts High School Competition.

Sofia has attended summer festivals and young artist programs including Brevard Music Center (2026), Finger Lakes Opera (2025), Vienna Opera Academy (2025), OperaViva! in Verona, Italy (2024); the International Vocal Artists Academy of Payerbach (2022, 2023) in Payerbach, Austria; and the Washington National Opera Institute (2021). She has recently sung in masterclasses with Jeff Cohen, Mark Padmore, and Nicole Cabell.

Sofia is passionate about community outreach and currently works as an Engagement Artist with Finger Lakes Opera. She has previously performed or volunteered with organizations including Washington National Opera, Opera America, ROC Music, Rochester Opera Guild, and The Wednesday Club. She is conversationally fluent in German and Italian and is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota. When Sofia isn’t singing, she enjoys baking, reading, and taking classes in flying and aerial static trapeze.