Biography
Maarit Aura was born in North Karelia, in eastern Finland.She began her voice studies in Joensuu Conservatory. Since 2002 she has studied at the Sibelius Academy Department of Vocal Music.
Maarit Aura has studied with vocal coaches such as Seppo Ruohonen, Ritva Auvinen, Bettina Denner and Outi Kähkönen.
In 2007 Maarit Aura studied at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar.
In 2006 she graduated from the Sibelius Academy with a Bachelor's degree and will receive her Master's degree in the spring of 2010.
Maarit Aura has attended master classes of Monica Groop, Martin Katz, Stefano Algieri, Udo Reinemann, Wilma Vernocchi, Larissa Gergieva and Norma Enns. When attending Peter Gülke's course on La Nozze di Figaro, she sang the role of Cherubino.
In 2002 Maarit Aura made her operatic debut in the role of the Priestess in Jani Siven's ”The women of Troy”. The opera was performed in Helsinki Conservatory and in Hebbel Theatre, Berlin.
In Sibelius Academy productions Maarit Aura has appeared in the roles of Ottavia in L'incoronazione di Poppea, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Cherubino and Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte.
In 2006 Maarit Aura sang the role of Siegrune (Die Walküre) in a festival of the Finnish Wagner Company.
Also in 2006 she sang in a virtual opera, which was a visionary collaboration of the Sibelius Academy and Helsinki University of Technology. The opera was directed by Jussi Tapola.
In opera ensemble performances Maarit Aura has sung roles like Carmen, 3. Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Alice (Falstaff), Marja (Juha) and Riitta (The Last temptations).
Upcoming operatic engagements include Dorabella in Hämeenlinna and Helsinki in the year of 2010.
Maarit Aura has enjoyed great success as a concert soloist.
She has given many lied concerts in Finland as well as abroad. In the spring of 2009 she was invited by the Minister of Culture to give a song recital in Iraq. She was accompanied by the famous conductor and pianist Pekka Haapasalo. While in Iraq Maarit Aura gave a master class at Arbil University of Arts.