Born in Melbourne, to Italian born parents, Michelle began her technical vocal studies with Gloden Mercer. She holds a Bachelor of Music Performance, Voice Degree (2005) from the Victorian College of the Arts under the tutelage of Anna Connolly. Michelle has participated in international Masterclasses with Richard Bonynge, Valentino Barcellesi, Bernadette Manca di Nissa, Margherita Rinaldi, Bruno De Simone, Roberto Scandiuzzi and Robert Kettelson.
Michelle was a finalist at distinguished Lyric Competitions in Australia, most notably the 2005 Herald Sun Aria Award and 2005 Covent Garden National Opera Awards where she was awarded the Lady Gallaghan Memorial Encouragement Award. Her outstanding performance at the ACCLAIM Comunale Award earned her a much sought after study scholarship at the Accademia of Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Firenze in 2006-2007.
In Australia Michelle enjoyed great success, starring in numerous productions including Hansel and Gretel by Humperdink (Gretel) with OZ Opera Schools Touring Company (2005). She has a wide Musical Theatre repertoire, performing in over ten productions (1999 – 2001) with leading roles in The Sound of Music (Liesl), The Mikado (Yum-Yum), Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (The Narrator) and Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel).
In 2006 during her time at the Accademia of the Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Michelle appeared as Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte adapted and directed by Gabriele Duma. She took the role of the Good Queen in the world premiere of Snow White by Luigi Zaninelli conducted by M˚ Michele Mariotti. She appeared as Micaela in an Italian tour (Rome, Fiesole) of La tragedie de Carmen with Opera-Oggi and covered the role of Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. In October 2006, Michelle made her debut at the Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino with the role of Serpetta in the highly acclaimed production of La Finta Giardiniera conducted by M˚ Enrique Mazzola and directed by Emilio Sagi.
From 2007 Michelle performed as a solo artist in numerous concerts and festivals particularly in Tuscany: her engagements have included an evening dedicated to sacred music composed by Giacomo Puccini Senior, first ever executed in modern times, conducted by M˚ Jonathan Brandani and performed in recitals with music dedicated to Mozart and Puccini at the “Festival Puccini e la sua Lucca” accompanied by M˚ Massimo Morelli.
Michelle’s other notable concert performances throughout Europe include: Mozart concert arias in Oredea (Romania) with the Oredea Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by M˚ Leonardo Gasparini; The Requiem by Domenico Cimarosa and other sacred arias of Donizetti and Bellini tour through Abruzzo (Italy) with the Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese directed by M˚ Marcello Bufalini and a recital dedicated to Italian Composers in St. Petersburg (Russia) at Hermitage Museum Theatre.
Last year she returned to Australia, making her debut with Melbourne Opera as Musetta in La Bohème and performed Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, at Hammer Hall with Victorian Opera and Victorian Symphony Orchestra, directed by Richard Gill. In March Michelle sang the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Victorian Opera directed by Richard Gill (Melbourne) and regional Victoria tour directed by Nicolas Carter, receiving great public success and critical acclaim.
Michelle has often featured in prime-time radio and global television transmissions and continues as an outstanding soloist in prestigious festivals and corporate events on the concert and lyric stage internationally. She currently resides in Italy and continues to study under Ayako Kotani.
From 2010 Michelle Buscemi will be member of the Scuola dell'Opera Italiana at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna.
October 2009
