Marie France Koua.
Soprano
Montréal · Côte d’Ivoire
- Based in
- Montréal, Québec
- Education
- Master’s in classical voice performance, Université de Montréal (2026)
- Award
- Gold Prize and Special Prize, 63rd Lanaudière Classical Music Festival and Competition (2026)
- Upcoming
- Éclosion — Thursday 12 November 2026 · 7:30 pm
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About
I dream that every note I sing may be a balm for the soul, a hand held out to those seeking a breath of beauty, peace and hope.
Marie France Koua is a soprano from Côte d’Ivoire based in Montréal. After a first career in Human Resources, she fully embraced her musical calling. Initially self-taught, she trained in Côte d’Ivoire, in France and at the Université de Montréal, where she earned a Master’s in classical voice performance in 2026. On stage she has sung Despina (Così fan tutte) at the Opéra de Bordeaux and the Dew Fairy (Hänsel und Gretel) with the Atelier d’opéra de l’UdeM, and appeared as a soloist at the Atelier lyrique opera gala. In 2026 she won the Gold Prize (Provincial Soloist) and a Special Prize at the 63rd Lanaudière Classical Music Festival and Competition. Her art builds a bridge between the elegance of Western classical music and the vibrant colours of her African heritage.
I aspire to make lyric singing and opera a living music, accessible to all, whatever their origins or social conditions. Because classical music can and must speak to everyone.
Full biography +
Marie France Koua is a soprano from Côte d’Ivoire based in Montréal. She first built a career in Human Resources before answering the call of singing. Six years ago she said “yes” to music: initially self-taught, she went on to train in Côte d’Ivoire, in France and at the Université de Montréal, where she earned a Master’s in classical voice performance in 2026.
In 2022 she was a semi-finalist in the Africa Lyric’s Opera competition in Paris. In 2023 she sang Despina (Così fan tutte) with orchestra in “Mozart en Italie” at the Opéra de Bordeaux, conducted by R. Gatto. At the Université de Montréal she appeared as a soloist in the Atelier lyrique opera gala (“Placido è il mar”, Idomeneo), sang the Dew Fairy in Hänsel und Gretel and gave her mid-Master’s recital (Gluck, Berlioz, Fauré, Fortier, Liszt, Strauss) at Salle Serge-Garant in 2025. She was also selected to perform at Le Pub Classique de Montréal.
In 2026 she won the Gold Prize (93.5%) in the Provincial Soloist category of the 63rd Lanaudière Classical Music Festival and Competition, along with a Special Prize: a creative residency followed by a recital at the Carrefour culturel de Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, “Éclosion”, on 12 November 2026.
Driven by the conviction that classical music can and must speak to everyone, Marie France Koua brings opera into dialogue with the rhythms, languages and emotions of Africa.
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Concerts
Nov 12, 2026
Éclosion — Residency recital
Thursday 12 November 2026 · 7:30 pm · Carrefour culturel de Notre-Dame-des-Prairies
With Julien LeBlanc, piano. Works by Debussy, Strauss, Duparc, Bizet, Hahn and Donizetti. Free admission.
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Career highlights
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Repertoire
Roles
Despina Così fan tutte, Mozart — Opéra de Bordeaux, 2023
Dew Fairy Hänsel und Gretel, Humperdinck — Atelier d’opéra UdeM, 2025
W. A. Mozart
“Placido è il mar” (Idomeneo) · Così fan tutte (Despina)
G. Donizetti
“Prendi, per me sei libero” (L’elisir d’amore)
G. Puccini
Airs d’opéra / opera arias
C. Debussy
Nuit d’étoiles · Fantoches
R. Strauss
Die Nacht · Zueignung
H. Duparc
Chanson triste · L’invitation au voyage
G. Bizet
Adieux de l’hôtesse arabe · Guitare
R. Hahn
Le rossignol des lilas · Quand je fus pris au pavillon
C. W. Gluck · H. Berlioz · G. Fauré · F. Liszt
Récital de mi-maîtrise, 2025
E. Humperdinck
Hänsel und Gretel (Taumännchen)
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Gallery
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Press
Everything you need to present Marie France Koua: biographies in three lengths, high-resolution photos, key facts and repertoire. Free to use for press and concert promotion, crediting the artist.
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Contact
I am available for solo performances, recitals, concerts, opera, musical theatre and artistic collaborations. Feel free to get in touch to book a performance.