Chelsea Zurflüh awarded the Emmerich Smola Prize
The Emmerich-Smola Sponsorship Awards 2025 for young opera stars go to Chelsea Zurflüh and Alexander Grassauer. Chelsea Zurflüh has also been awarded the Orchestra Prize.
The two were selected from a field of six by public vote. The Emmerich Smola Orchestra Prize of the German Radio Philharmonic 2025 was also awarded to Chelsea Zurflüh. The City of Landau and Sparkasse Südpfalz will award the two of them 20,000 euros as part of the 20th SWR Young Opera Stars Concert. As the winner of the orchestra prize, Chelsea Zurflüh will also be invited to perform with the German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra next season.
Born in 1995 in Switzerland with roots in the Seychelles, she completed her Master's degree in Specialized Music Performance Opera with Barbara Locher in Bern in 2021 with top marks. She attended masterclasses with Brigitte Fassbaender, Michelle Wegwart, Hedwig Fassbender, Eytan Pessen and Malcolm Walker. From 2021 to 2023 she was a member of the Zurich International Opera Studio.
