Iryna Ilnytska, mezzo soprano from Ukraine, began studying music at the age of eight. At the age of twelve, she won the first prize at an opera competition in Luhansk/Ukraine for young singers. A few years later she sang the roles of Carmen and Dalila at the Opera studio in Kyiv.
Iryna studied classical voice at the Academy of Music Claudio Abbado in Milan, Italy in the opera class of Maestro Vincenzo Manno.
Her first roles in the UK were the ones of 3rd Lady, 3rd Spirit, Idamante, Lola and Orfeo. She worked with Red Earth Opera, Somerset Opera, Staircase Opera and Opera in a Box here. Iryna also sang solos in Mozart's Coronation Mass K317 and Vespers K339, alto solo in G.F. Handel’s “Messiah”, as well as other concerts with different ensembles at Exeter Cathedral.
Together with Stella Maris Trio Iryna performed in Devon and Oxfordshire at different venues, including Blenheim Palace.
Iryna worked with REO as Assistant Director for the production of 'L'elisir d'amore'. She also directed Mozart's 'Cosi fan tutte' with Exeter University Opera Society and Gluck's 'Orfeo ed Euridice' with Stella Maris Trio. In 2023 Iryna was a Co-Director of Gilbert & Sullivan’s opera ‘The Sorcerer’ with Exeter Operatic Group 'St. David’s Players' - On May 18th 2024 Iryna won the Allan Brooking Cup for the Best Gilbert & Sullivan Production.
Last year Iryna sang a lot of charity concerts to support Ukrainian volunteers who save lives in this terrible war. She is planning to continue doing it this year. She is also looking forward to singing the roles of Orfeo and Carmen, working on the projects 'Queens in Opera', 'Aspects of Love', 'Viva Verdi!' as well as performing some concerts in Bern and Zurich, Switzerland.