This Dublin-born soprano possesses a voice of great quality and is establishing herself as a performer of renown in many genres of vocal repertoire.Sylvia began her musical journey at the age of six in the College of Music Chatham Row studying piano and theory. During her time at Trinity College where she read music, Sylvia continued her piano studies while involving herself in nearly every vocal ensemble in Dublin at the time. It wasn't until she began deputising with the National Chamber Choir that she thought to make a career in singing. Sylvia has studied with Irene Sandford at the Royal Irish Academy of Music Dublin, Mimi Freissler and Peter Woss in Vienna and Janice Chapman in London as well as with her father Frank O'Brien. During which time she was recipient of many awards, bursaries and scholarships. She is currently persuing a masters in contemporary vocal techniques at the Dundalk Institute of Media and Technology.
As a soloist and member of the National Chamber Choir (1998-2003), she toured internationally, recorded and broadcasted on television and radio. During this time Sylvia also had the opportunity to work with international conductors and ensembles and perform a variety of musical styles from Gregorian to contemporary.
A regular recitalist around the UK and Europe, Sylvia's repetoire this year includes programs of French song, Spanish (with guitar), Lieder and a tour of Shostakovich Seven Romances Op.127 with the Clara Schumann Trio. She has sung a wealth of the oratorio repetoire with the major choral societies and orchestras in the country. She is in great demand in the contemporary field due to her vocal skill and musicianship. Sylvia has added to her operatic roles in the last year as Jenufa (Jenufa/Janacek), Aspasia (Mitridate/Mozart), Governess (The Turn of the Screw/Britten, Gabriel (Petra von Kant/Barry) premiere, Neither/Feldman and future engagements include Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Konstanze in Die Entfuhrung/Mozart and Grafin in Der Wiener Bluthe/J.Strauss.
Ms O’Brien is a remarkable performer of oratorio repertoire and has been guest soprano with Ireland’s leading choral groups. Her repertoire this season includes Die Schuldigkeit des Ersten Gobots by Mozart with the NDR in Hannover, Verdi’s Requiem, Mozart's great C minor and Mozart’s Exultate Jubilatae conducted by David Agler. Mozart Festival with the Orchestra of St Cecilia, performing Despina in Cosi fanTutte C minor Mass, and the Requiem conducted by Kenneth Montgomery.