Dr. Briggs - Okunev is a Russian – born, Australian soprano. She earned her Bachelor
degree in piano performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Dr. Briggs then
attained Masters in vocal performance, Newcastle Conservatorium and DMA from Sydney
University and Royal Northern College of Music, UK. Her research is focused on training
and development of young opera singers. Her published thesis on tertiary opera training is available online.
Dr. Briggs was an Australian finalist of the Covent Garden Young Artist scholarship,
Lady Fairfax NY scholarship and Australian National Aria award. Maria was the winner
of Australian MIETTA recital award in 2008 and received her prize from Maestro Richard
Bonynge. Dr. Briggs has sung with Opera Australia, Pacific Opera, Lyric Opera Weimar
and Glyndebourne Opera Festival, UK. Maria is well known as a superb recitalist and
champion of contemporary repertoire. She has recorded new Australian works for voice
and small ensemble with ABC Classic FM radio. She has sung in numerous live radio
broadcasts as part of the ABC “Sunday Live” series. Dr. Briggs has made her television
debut in 2010 in the film I Spry – The Rise and Fall of a Master Spy, ABC Television playing the role of a Russian
singer (Hugo Weaving – presenter). Dr. Briggs’ selected performances can be viewed
on her website: www.okunevmusic.com
Maria is artistic director of the “Marianna Ensemble” – a cross disciplinary quartet that performs her original compositions, Jazz and
world music. Marianna Ensemble is a featured act of the Blue Pie Records label. Their
album is available on iTunes, Spotify and all other major platforms. Hear the album
and find out more about Marianna Ensemble here.
Dr. Briggs is a featured author of the Classical Singer Magazine. Her recent articles
about opera industry and education can be viewed here.
Dr. Briggs joined Fresno State music department in August of 2016 as Assistant Professor
of Voice. She now lives in Fresno with her husband Matthew and two sons. Since coming
on board Maria performed major works with Fresno State Symphony orchestra, including
Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs, Tchaikowsky’s Tatiana in Eugene Onegin and Butterfly in
the department’s production of Madama Butterfly, Puccini. Maria also gave a number
of solo recitals and directed the department opera production of Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus”.
As a stage director Maria has worked with young singers for many years. Her work included
staging opera, Musical Theatre, as well as gala showcases and cross-disciplinary performances.
Dr. Briggs made her American opera debut in 2017 performing the role of Tsarevna in
Rimsky Korsakov’s Kashchey the Immortal, Island City Opera.
Dr. Briggs is a frequent soloist with local community groups. Her performances included
soprano solo in Mozart Requiem, Bach’s St John’s Passion, Fresno Community Chorus
and Clara Schumann voice cycle Op. 23, Orpheus concert series. Dr. Briggs is a creator
and director of the Fresno State Art Song Festival. The cross-cultural event runs every February and includes performances and masterclasses
by international guest faculty, composition competition, poetry competition, lectures,
discussions and vocal student showcase prizes.
Classical Vocal Pedagogy and Repertoire
Opera and Opera training
Directing Opera
Ethnographic research
Russian vocal reperoire
Australian vocal repertoire
Cross disciplinary projects
World music
"Winter Evening" CD Centaur Records, due to be released in Fall 2022
Briggs, Maria “Opera After COVID: A Conversation with Gerald Finley” Classical Singer Magazine, February 5, 2021
Briggs, Maria “Voice Students Win During COVID” Classical Singer Magazine, September 9, 2020
Briggs, Maria “I Will Survive: Why Opera Singers Will Thrive and Survive COVID 19” Classical Singer Magazine, April 29, 2020
Briggs, Maria “All I Want for Christmas is…an Opera Career!” Classical Singer Magazine, December 23, 2019
Briggs, Maria “#MeToo and Opera” Classical Singer Magazine, November 22, 2019
DMA Thesis: “Tertiary Opera Training in Australia and UK: Ethnographic Perspective”, 2015