Onella Piyatilake, 25, studies with Dr. Annie Picard. In May 2019 she graduated with her Masters in Vocal Performance from North Park University. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance and a minor in Finance. This Sri Lankan born soprano began her training at age six with the Mary Anne Singers Academy of Music (Colombo, Sri Lanka) and continued with the academy until 2010, when she and her family immigrated to the United States. Between 2000 and 2010, Onella was an eight-time titleholder for Sri Lanka’s All Island Music Competition, classical division, an award issued by the British Federation of Music. Onella has also had the privilege of appearing on Sri Lankan radio and television. Ms. Piyatilake has performed the roles of First Spirit in Die zauberflöte, and le rossignol and La Chauve- Souris in L’Enfant et les sortilèges. In 2014, Onella placed third at the National Association for Teachers for Singing (NATS) competition, and received honors at the 2016 NATS. In the 2018 Performance Awards at North Park University, Onella was awarded second place in the Graduate division. Recently, she made her emerging artist debut with The Strangers.co. Early Music Ensemble, and she is April’s featured performer for FEED: Frontier Feminists. She had the honor of performing BWV 82 with the North Park University Orchestra in March 2018. Onella is an avid volunteer and musician with Missionaries of the Poor and hopes to dedicate her life to using her experience as a child of war to help others from similar communities.