About Tehmine Schaeffer

Tehmine Schaeffer is an internationally acclaimed Austrian-Armenian coloratura soprano, celebrated for her extraordinary vocal brilliance, refined musicianship, expressive depth, and remarkable versatility across the operatic and concert repertoire. Recognized for her distinctive artistry and exceptional stage presence, she has established herself as a compelling interpreter on leading international opera and concert stages.

Born in Armenia, Ms. Schaeffer received her artistic foundation at the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan, where she graduated with honors in vocal performance and composition. During her studies, she was the only scholarship recipient of the legendary Armenian soprano Gohar Gasparyan, an experience that profoundly influenced her vocal and artistic development.

Her international training continued at the prestigious Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, where she studied with the world-renowned soprano Renata Scotto. She further refined her artistic interpretation through masterclasses with celebrated soprano Cheryl Studer, gaining invaluable insight from one of the most distinguished figures of the international opera tradition.

A versatile artist with a strong connection to both classical and contemporary repertoire, Ms. Schaeffer was awarded First Prize at the Crystal Camerton International Competition for Young Composers in 2003. In recognition of her exceptional artistic achievements, she received an honorary scholarship from the Mikael Tariverdiev Creative Heritage Charity Fund in 2009. Since then, she has been closely associated with Tariverdiev’s musical legacy, performing significant works including the mono-opera The Waiting and the concerto for coloratura soprano Expectation.

Her international concert career includes her acclaimed debut at Moscow’s historic Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in 2010 with the State Symphony Orchestra New Russia under the baton of Yuri Bashmet.

In 2021, she made her debut at the prestigious Wiener Musikverein with the Donau Philharmonie Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Schaeffer is a laureate of numerous international vocal competitions. Among her distinctions are First Prize at the Victoria International Vocal Competition, as well as Special Prizes at the Romansiada International Vocal Contest, the Sviridov Chamber Vocal Competition, and the 25th Glinka International Vocal Competition for the Best Performance of a Contemporary Vocal Work.

Her artistic career has brought her to some of the world’s most renowned opera houses, concert halls, and festivals, including the Opéra National de Lyon, the Festival International d’Aix-en-Provence, the Wiener Musikverein, the National Theatre of Greece, the Cairo Opera House, the Alexandria Opera House, the Wuxi Grand Theatre in China, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, and the Saint Petersburg Philharmonia.

Throughout her career, Ms. Schaeffer has collaborated with internationally acclaimed conductors and stage directors, including Kazushi Ono, William Kentridge, and François Girard. Her work with these leading artists in major opera productions has contributed to her reputation as a highly versatile performer with a profound understanding of musical style, dramatic expression, and contemporary stage language.

Her operatic repertoire encompasses some of the most demanding roles for coloratura soprano, including the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, Susanna in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Madame Herz in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor, and Nerina in Haydn’s La Fedeltà Premiata. Her repertoire also includes contemporary works such as Khodorkovsky and Ewiger Frieden.

At the Opéra National de Lyon, she performed Podtochina’s Daughter in Shostakovich’s The Nose and the First Flowermaiden in Wagner’s Parsifal. She also sang the role of Kate in Periklis Liakakis’ opera Khodorkovsky at the National Theatre of Greece.

In 2026, Tehmine Schaeffer was honored with the Golden Mozart Medallion and a Special Prize awarded by the Mozart Society Vienna, recognizing her outstanding artistic achievements and her distinguished interpretation of Mozart’s works.