A finalist in the 13th Pietro Antonio Cesti International Competition in Innsbruck, Austria, coloratura soprano Maud Bessard-Morandas has won four prizes at the 12th Les Saisons de la Voix International Art Song Competition in Gordes, third prize at the Léopold Bellan International Competition in Paris, first prize at the Swiss International Music Competition in Lugano, the Audience Award at the Opéra en Arles competition, and is a laureate of the Royaumont (2023–24), Leenards, and Sigg Foundations.

Originally a dancer and actress, Maud holds three Master’s degrees: two from the Haute École de Musique de Genève (in opera performance and vocal pedagogy, in the class of C. Tilquin) and one from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon (in choral conducting, with N. Corti and L. Sow). She also earned a State Diploma in vocal ensemble conducting (CNSMD), a Bachelor’s degree in music/musicology from Lyon 2 University, and three Diplomas of Musical Studies from the École Nationale de Musique de Villeurbanne.

She has studied with many renowned artists, including Patricia Petibon, Paul Agnew, Gerd Türk, Raphaël Pichon, Antoine Palloc, Susan Manoff, Emmanuel Olivier, David Selig, Erika Guiomar, and David Levi.

Her operatic repertoire spans all eras: La Musica in Monteverdi’s Orfeo, Grazia in Draghi’s Il dono della vita eterna, Amour and Eurydice in Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice, Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, the First Lady, Papagena, and the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Olympia in Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann, Thérèse in Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias, the title role in Delibes’ Lakmé, the title role in Ibert’s Angélique, Sister Constance in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, Sakura in Butterfly Room Service, and Koré-Persephone in Déméter by B. Berne.

In oratorio, art song, and early music, Maud regularly gives recitals at the Grand Théâtre de Genève Souris Traviata and Colorama), at Geneva’s Cité Bleue, and is frequently invited as a soloist by professional ensembles such as Cappella Mediterranea (L. García Alarcón), Les Voix Animées (L. Coadou), Procris (L. Agut), O Tempora (Q. Guérillot), Tricordi(co-founder), Crisopea (D. Lombritto), and Spirito (N. Corti).

She is the founder of Duo Malices with pianist Alice Pepek and also performs in a voice–piano duo with pianist Timothée Hudrisier. She has recorded a solo album with Cappella Mediterranea for the Ricercar label, and another with organist Quentin Guérillot for Château de Versailles Spectacles.