Meet our team

Sara Barakat is a Belgian lyric soprano performing As soloist and chamber choir singer on international stages. She founded Rise Opera Studio to create a high-level launchpad for the next generation of opera artists.

Sara Barakat

Founder & Artistic director

Hoviv Hayrabedian

Conductor

Trained at the Conservatoires of Marseille, Brussels, and the Haute École de Musique de Genève, Hoviv Hayrabedian is an internationally active conductor. Founder of the BruMe Orchestra and former assistant conductor of the Orchestre de la Francophonie de Montréal, he brings rigorous musical leadership to the production.

Margarita Bouchler

Stage director

Margarita studied stage directing at the Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts and Culture. She is very active as actress, stage director, production assistant and in dubbing. She is the coordinator and professor at the Atelier Théâtre at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. Margarita will coach the singers and direct la Bohème. 

Gabrielle Philiponet

Vocal Coach

An internationally acclaimed soprano and prize-winner at some of the most prestigious opera competitions, including the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Gabrielle Philiponet brings exceptional artistic standards to her teaching. She leads the vocal masterclasses for singers.

Virgile Van Essche

Sarah Defrise

Vocal Coach

Répétiteur

Belgian pianist trained at the Rimski-Korsakov Conservatory in Saint Petersburg, the Royal Academy of Music in London, and the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles. With extensive experience in operatic repertoire, he coaches the répétiteurs throughout the programme.

Specialist in Italian diction and theatre, Stefano Orlando teaches at the Italian Cultural Institute of Amsterdam, the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, and Codarts Rotterdam. He guides singers through an in-depth study of the libretto, pronunciation, and character interpretation.

Stefano Orlando

Brussels-born soprano, graduated from the Koninklijk Conservatorium, Sarah Defrise performs regularly on major opera stages. Known for her versatility and her commitment to contemporary music, she coaches singers throughout the rehearsal process.

Italian Coach