Introducing the Wexford Factory artists for 2025
Pictured are members of the Wexford Factory, WFO Artistic Director, Rosetta Cucchi, Danielle Cunniffe, Partner PwC, Áine Brassill, Partner, PwC. Photo: Patrick Browne
The second year of the current Wexford Factory artists has officially begun. To mark the occasion, teams from Wexford Festival Opera and PwC gathered at the National Opera House to celebrate and wish the artists well for the upcoming Festival.
Founded in 2020 by WFO’s Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi, the Wexford Factory is a professional development academy for emerging opera singers, répétiteurs, and stage managers. The programme nurtures each individual as they take their first steps into the industry. PwC plays a vital role through its ongoing sponsorship of the Wexford Factory, extending a long-standing partnership with Wexford Festival Opera. Since 2020, PwC’s support has helped expand the Factory, reflecting the firm’s commitment to the Arts & Culture sector and to initiatives that make a valuable impact on society.
Danielle Cunniffe, Partner at PwC, said:
“Enabling diverse young talent to reach their potential is a priority at PwC. We are also conscious of supporting the Arts & Culture sector and their valuable impact on society and in our communities. Our continued support of this important professional development academy at Wexford Festival Opera is a perfect fit for our brand. We wish all the Wexford Factory artists great success for the 2025 programme and in their future careers.”
Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi added:
“The Wexford Factory has always been my dream, a place to nurture the next generation of Irish opera talent, equipping them with the skills, experience, and confidence to shine on the world stage. With PwC as a partner from the start of the Factory we have been able to grow and develop the programme since 2020. We are very grateful to PwC for supporting this vital part of our Festival.”
Wexford Factory participants embark on a two-year journey, engaging in a professional development academy held every September in Wexford. The programme expanded in its second year (2022/2023) to include répétiteurs alongside singers, and stage managers were added last year. More than just a training programme, the Wexford Factory is shaping the future of opera in Ireland. In the five years since it began in 2020, the programme has seen 46 singers, 6 pianists, and 2 stage managers participate.
The current two-year Wexford Factory programme, which began in 2024, now enters its concluding year. The artists taking part in the 2025 Wexford Factory are:
Singers: Laura Aherne, Jane Burnell, Valeria Gorbunova, Tong Guo, David Kennedy, Agshin Khudaverdiyev, Rory William Lynch, Maria Matthews, Ihor Mostovoi, Adam McDonagh, Forooz Razavi, Yu Shao and Seán Tester.
Pianists: Frasier Hickland, Declan Murphy and Doireann O’Carroll
Stage Management: Elena Cullen, Nell Snyder and Bradley Whelan
Working closely with partner organisations — the Rossini Opera Festival ‘Alberto Zedda Academy’ in Pesaro, TU Dublin, RIAM (Royal Irish Academy of Music), and Opera for Peace – the Wexford Factory helps participants hone their musical and professional skills as they embark on their careers.
As part of the programme, Wexford Factory participants gather in the award-winning National Opera House in Wexford every September where they receive expert mentorship and coaching from internationally renowned artists and industry professionals. The Factory artists will also take part in several ways in this year’s Festival including a production of Il Viaggio a Reims by Gioachino Rossini and in pop-up performances throughout the town. The professional development programme will culminate in a special Wexford Factory concert in the National Opera House on 28th September. The programme also offers an international exchange experience with the Rossini Opera Festival, giving participants valuable exposure to the global opera stage.
The Wexford Factory is also supported by The Arnhold Foundation. The repetiteur and stage management programme is supported by The Community Foundation Ireland.
Wexford Festival Opera runs from 17th October to 1st November 2025. For full programme details visit our programme page.