PwC and Wexford Festival Opera celebrate emerging artists as the Wexford Factory artists commence their second year

Today, to mark the second year of the current group of Wexford Factory artists, members of the teams from Wexford Festival Opera and PwC gathered together at the National Opera House to take a moment to celebrate and wish the artists well for this coming festival.  

Pictured are David Kennedy (Wexford Factory); WFO Artistic Director, Rosetta Cucchi; Seán Tester, Forooz Razavi, Frasier Hickland (all Wexford Factory); Danielle Cunniffe, Partner, PwC; Áine Brassill, Partner, PwC and Rory Lynch (Wexford Factory) who gathered to wish the artists well for the 2025 Wexford Factory programme.

Founded in 2020 by Wexford Festival Opera’s Artistic Director, Rosetta Cucchi, the Wexford Factory programme is WFO’s professional development academy for young Irish and Irish-based artists, designed to nurture emerging opera singers, repetiteurs, and stage managers as they take their first steps into the industry. 

PwC plays a key role with its commitment to supporting artists through their continuing sponsorship of Wexford Factory this year. PwC has been a long-time supporter of Wexford Festival Opera, expanding the partnership to sponsor Wexford Factory in 2020. This partnership showcases the firm’s support of the Arts & Culture sector and its commitment to projects which make a valuable impact on our society.

Speaking of the Factory and PwC partnership WFO Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi said - "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.

ENDS