“Phenomenal mezzo-soprano Monica Ruggiero” (Stage Whispers, 2024) has been praised for her “engaging spirit and soaring voice” (ArtsHub 2024) as well as her “outstanding stage presence and mix of elegance and humour” (Lindy Hume, 2024). The Italian- Australian mezzo-soprano made her professional debut in 2024, performing the role of Kate in The Pirates of Penzance at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. In 2025, Monica will take part in Opernfest Prague as a young artist with a Merit Scholarship, as well as return to the Tyalgum Music Festival as Papagena and Erste Dame in Voxalis Opera’s production of Die Zauberflöte. Additionally, she will take part in the Queensland Art Song Festival with collaborative pianist Michael Anthrak, as well as perform in collaboration with Springboard Opera in The Domestic Sublime. 

Monica has displayed outstanding theatrical versatility and vocal diversity in roles performed to date and has worked alongside esteemed directors and conductors such as Stuart Maunder, Lindy Hume, Constantine Costi, Michael Gow, Johannes Fritzsch, and Simon Bruckard. Monica’s recent credits include Melanto in Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria,  La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, Zerlina in Don Giovanni at the Cuskelly College of Music, and as a chorus member in Voxalis Opera’s production of Hansel and Gretel at the Tyalgum Music Festival. Furthermore, Monica has performed the roles of Cherubino in scenes from Le Nozze di Figaro, Venus from Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld, and Mustardseed in Britten’s Midsummer Night's Dream at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. 

Monica is the recipient of the Elizabeth Muir Postgraduate Award (2025), Sir Mostyn Hanger Opera Scholarship (2024), Griffith University Academic Excellence Award (2025-2021), and the Allan McArthur Memorial Scholarship awarded at the National Liederfest (2025). In 2024, Monica was awarded a Bachelor of Music in operatic performance with first class Honours from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University under the tutelage of Associate Professor Margaret Schindler and Dr Ron Morris.