Anna Starushkevych
Art and life are not two separate things.
- Felix Mendelssohn
The first mezzo-soprano to win the International Handel Singing Competition in London — taking both the Audience Prize and the York Early Music Prize — the ‘unique-timbred’ Anna Starushkevych is described as a ‘creative energy force’ and is recognised by opera directors and audiences for her compelling stage presence.
​
Her operatic roles range from Ottavia in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea to Angelina in Rossini’s La Cenerentola and reflect her passion for roles she deeply connects with.
​
Dedicated to using music and art to shed light on vital social issues, Anna is the founder of the UK-registered non-profit Music Will Save The World (MWSTW).
​
Anna’s work as screenwriter, director, leading actress, and singer in the short operatic film Magura — dedicated to the missing people of war and produced under MWSTW’s project Opera is Us — received international attention and continues to influence how this issue is being portrayed. International screenings of Magura keep raising funds to support search groups for the missing.
Anna collaborates with contemporary composers on new vocal music and leads international cultural exchange initiatives. In November 2025, as a Ukrainian-British artist she organised and led the British Baroque Delegation to Ukraine, building bridges through art and solidarity.
​
As the founder of Music Will Save The World, Anna commissioned a new opera, Penelope. Seven Ways to Wait, from composer Kristina Arakelyan (libretto by Helen Eastman) and was an integral member of the core creative team. The world premiere took place in Ukraine on 22 August 2025, at the Ivano-Frankivsk Philharmonic, where Anna — in addition to singing the leading role — also directed the production.
Committed to creating and sharing unique artistic experiences with audiences worldwide, she founded recital series Music To The Rescue, which bring together music and history.
​
Anna is also a passionate tango dancer, and has a wide array of musical interests. She likes exploring new musical forms and blending genres, merging folk, jazz and classical influences to expand the boundaries of vocal expression and sound. This can be seen in her experimental Thunderstorm Study.
​
To hear directly from Anna about her artistic journey, insights and upcoming projects, visit her Substack and subscribe to Anna’s Voice newsletters for exclusive updates, stories and reflections.