Described as possessing “a voice like manuka honey - priceless, and healing to boot” (Waikato Times, NZ), New Zealand soprano Felicity Tomkins is currently training overseas, pursuing further graduate studies under the tutelage of internationally acclaimed tenor Stuart Skelton at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), completing her Artist Diploma in Opera Vocal Performance.

Last year, Felicity was one of the Kentucky District Winners in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and she has recently been named a Finalist in the 2023 Saengerbund Awards. In July of 2022, she was the Runner-Up for the Lexus Song Quest, debuting with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under maestro James Judd in the Grand Final. This past summer before heading home to compete in the Lexus Song Quest, Felicity experienced CCM Opera's inaugural Language and Culture Immersion Program, and was based in Munich at the Bayerische Staatsoper. Felicity has been a resident artist with New Zealand Opera, and completed her residency with the company in 2021 before arriving at CCM, as a Dame Malvina Major Foundation Studio Artist.

Last November at CCM, she made her role debut as Madame Lidoine, in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites. At CCM, she has also been the soprano soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with CCM’s Chamber Orchestra (2021), and she made her role debut as Jeannette in Bologne's L’amant Anonyme (2022). Her other role experience includes; Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann (University of Waikato, NZ), Countess Rosina Almaviva - cover, in Le nozze di Figaro (NZ Opera), Norina in Don Pasquale (NZ Opera in Schools Tour), Nedda - cover, in Pagliacci (Festival Opera NZ), and Elle - cover, in La voix humaine (NZ Opera). Felicity has also appeared as a soloist with several choirs and orchestras in New Zealand, including Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle (Cantando Choir), Malcolm Archer’s Requiem (Cantando Choir), Bach’s B Minor Mass (Hamilton Civic Choir), and with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra under maestro Giordano Bellincampi (Lockwood New Zealand Aria Final.)

During her tertiary studies in New Zealand as a Sir Edmund Hillary Arts Scholar/Medallist and Aria Competition Winner at the University of Waikato, Felicity graduated with her Master of Music (First Class Honours), Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours), and her Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) conjoint degrees. At the 2021 NZ Opera School, Felicity was awarded the Dame Sister Mary Leo Scholarship with the Susie and Guy Haddleton Emerging Artist Award, and was the 2021 Circle100 Scholar. In 2022, she was awarded a Kia Ora Foundation Patricia Pratt Scholarship and is a continuing Kiwi Music Scholar, (from 2021) with both awards continuing to support her artistic growth internationally.

Known for her work not only as a singer but as an actor, Felicity was selected to be a member of the 2014 Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand (SGCNZ) Young Shakespeare Company, a three-week workshop experience, culminating in a performance of Julius Caesar at The Globe Theatre in London, England. Felicity also holds ATCL Diplomas with Distinction in Classical Singing Performance (2017), Public Speaking (2016), and Speech and Drama (2014). She can be heard in recordings on Radio New Zealand Concert (RNZ), and in Janet Jennings’ Voices of Women CD, a project which involved recording a new work with pianist Maria Mo, entitled Myself When Young, released in July 2020.