Croatian-Canadian soprano Chelsea Kolić is establishing herself as an exciting young artist throughout both North America and Europe. She has received over ten international awards including four first prizes, among which she was named Canada District Winner of the Laffont Competition (2021/2022). In fall 2023, after seven years of working and studying abroad in Europe, Chelsea returned to Canada to join Opéra de Montréal's Atelier lyrique young artist program. Throughout her first season, she successfully covered the roles of La Contessa (Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro) and Violetta (Verdi's La Traviata), made her mainstage debut as Annina (Verdi's La Traviata), and sang the roles of La Virtù and Venus in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea. She also gave strong performances as Donna Elvira and Vitellia in a Mozart scenes project directed by the world-renowned Stephen Lawless. Chelsea also joined Orchestre symphonique de Drummondville in their concert production of Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore as Giannetta.

The 2024/2025 season with Opéra de Montréal saw her cover the role of Mimì (Puccini's La bohème), sing the roles of La Princesse/La Bergère/La Chouette (Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges), as well as the role of La Lune in the world premiere of a new Canadian work, titled Le Phare. She also sang Mrs. Gobineau/Offstage Voice (Menotti's The Medium) with Orchestre classique de Montréal and works by various late-Baroque/early Classical composers in an opera pasticche (titled "Rome") with Orchestre de la Vallée du Henri-Saint-Laurant-Gallileo. She also had notable features in Handel, Bel canto, Britten, and new works projects with the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne. In addition, Chelsea had a breakout performance in the role of Vitellia (Mozart's La clemenza di Tito), which was directed by Stephen Lawless. This summer, she will be making her US debut (Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen) with Charlottesville Opera, Kindred Spirits Orchestra debut (Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen), and singing the title role in (Lehár's The Merry Widow) with Highlands Opera Studio. ​

In 2016, she completed her Bachelor of Music at McGill University (Canada) under the supervision of soprano Joanne Kolomyjec. During her studies at the University Mozarteum Salzburg (Austria), she completed both a Master of Arts (Lied & Oratorio) under the direction of Barbara Bonney and Wolfgang Holzmair and a Master of Arts (Opera) under the direction of Gernot Sahler and Alexander von Pfeil. Chelsea performed her first role with the University Mozarteum in December 2018 in their production of Philippe Boesmans’ Reigen. Unfortunately, her final role at the Mozarteum (Vitellia in Mozart’s La clememza di Tito) was cancelled due to Covid-19. 

During the pandemic, she sang in several virtual productions, such as Norina (Donizetti's Don Pasquale) and Micaëla (Bizet's Carmen) and has spent two summers as part of the Accademia Europa dell’Opera (Lucca, Italy) singing the roles of Oberto (Handel’s Alcina) and Susanna (Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro). She has also worked extensively on the roles of Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Äanchen (von Weber’s Der Freischütz), and Morgana (Alcina). In spring 2021, she starred as a soloist with Theater Krefeld and Mönchengladbach in The Plague; a Baroque opera pasticcio with music by Henry Purcell. During the next three seasons, she sang Frasquita (Carmen), 1st Wood Sprite (Dvořák's Rusalka), 1st Elf (Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream), 1st Lady (Die Zauberflöte), and Countess Ceprano/Page (Verdi's Rigoletto). In June 2023, she jumped in as Lisa (Bellini's La Sonnambula) and shone. In fall 2022, Chelsea made her UK debut in the title role of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen with Hamstead Garden Opera (London), which received the 2023 Offies award for Best Opera Performance by an Ensemble. 

In 2022, Chelsea made her oratorio soloist debut in a performance of Händel’s Brockes Passion  with Crescendo Chorus Krefeld. She was also an academy artist with the Confidencen Opera & Music Festival in Sweden (summer 2022), where she performed an original concept piece consisting of Baroque solo and ensemble pieces. Chelsea also recently performed the soprano solo in Haydn's Missa in tempore belli and Mozart's Regina coeli  with the Rheinisches Oratorienorchester in Krefeld (fall 2022). She recently performed as the soprano soloist in Orff's Carmina Burana (Bregenz, Austria), and Händel's Messiah (Saint Catherine's and Burlington, Canada) and looks forward to more concert work in the future.

Her chorus experience includes engagements with the Salzburg Festival (Austria), Theater Osnabrück (Germany), Theater Krefeld and Mönchengladbach (Germany), CoGNiMUS Collektiv (Germany and International), Opera McGill (Canada), and Opera Hamilton (Canada). Chelsea’s choral and cantor experience began in 2002 and she has performed often throughout North America and Europe. She has also participated in many solo and studio recitals in Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Austria. Upon graduating from her bachelor degree, Chelsea received special distinction and excellence in voice performance. She has been awarded many voice and academic scholarships from both McGill University and the University Mozarteum. Chelsea has also taken part in masterclasses with top members of the field to refine her skills, including with Helmut Deutsch, Pierre Vallet, Barbary Bonney, Wolfgang Holzmair, Christoph Prégardien, Étienne Dupuis, Ailyn Pérez, and Jordan de Souza. In November 2023, she was invited to work extensively with Thomas Hampson and Melanie Diener's as part of the 4th annual Opera Workshop (Waiblingen, Germany) and will be attending the 6th edition of the workshop this fall. Chelsea is also an avid Lied singer and enjoys performing new compositions. She has taken part in the NEO Voice Festival (USA) and has sung in many concerts as part of the Arcady Emerging Artist program (Canada) In her spare time, Chelsea is an passionate traveller and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially her dachshund puppy, Miniato. She is currently based in Montréal, Canada.