Hailed by the New York Times as "the magnetic center of attention" and "the clear star of the show", young Polish-Canadian soprano Maria Knapik shines equally bright on the opera stage as in concert and oratorio performances.

Krakow Dziennik reported that Ms Knapik has "The beautiful voice and vocal technique which enable her to perform both Handel's and Rossini's arias with the same degree of perfection,...". Then further that “The renowned soprano is critically acclaimed by the international media for her most attractive and captivating stage presence. Also for her passionate portrayals of the roles she sings, as well as her rich, full, beautiful voice."

Soprano Maria Knapik frequently appears as soloist with major orchestras and in many demanding roles with opera companies throughout Europe and North America. With her captivating stage presence and passionate singing, Ms Knapik breathes life into her roles, most notably the title roles of Puccini's Tosca and Verdi's Alzira with the New York Grand Opera, the latter at Carnegie Hall. In addition to performing as soloist at the Kennedy Center with Maestro Robert Shafer with his Grammy award winning Washington Chorus, Ms Knapik has also been invited to appear as a special guest artist at the Annual Puccini Foundation Concert at Alice Tully Hall of New York's Lincoln Center.

Ms Knapik's vocal competition successes include top prizes at three international competitions, namely, the Gerda Lissner Foundation Vocal Competition in New York City, the International Chigiana Festival in Sienna, Italy, as well as the Greater Buffalo Opera Company's International Vocal Competition. She has also won several vocal competitions in Canada including: the Guelph Spring Festival; The Montreal National Debut Competition for Young Artists ( which led to her debut on CBC French Radio Network); and first prize for opera and oratorio at the Kiwanis Festival plus its Fenwick Scholarship. In 2006 Maria Knapik was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit by the Government of Poland for her professional achievements, her promotion of Polish culture and Polish-Canadian cultural cooperation and her charitable activities. In year 2005, Ms Knapik was presented with the International Rising Star of Opera Award by the American Institute of Polish Culture.

Ms Knapik's most recent opera highlights include: the title role in Suor Angelica and Nedda in I Pagliacci, both with the New York Grand Opera in its summer festival in New York's Central Park and in Ukraine; the role of Mimi (La Bohème) with The New York Grand Opera and with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra; and as Musetta (La Bohème) in Czechoslovakia; the title role in Moniuszko's opera Halka with the Sarasota Opera and with the Warsaw National Opera as well as in Toronto and Hamilton; Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) with Opera Lyra Ottawa at the National Art Centre; Liu (Turandot) with the New York Grand Opera in Central Park; Alice Ford (Falstaff) with the State Opera in Ukraine, as well as in its touring performances in Germany and Switzerland; Fiordiligi (Cosi fan Tutte) in Bulgaria; the title roles of Verdi's Alzira and Giovanna d'Arco (Joan of Arc) at Carnegie Hall; Mimi in Leoncavallo's La Bohème, with the New York Grand Opera under the baton of Vincent La Selva; the title role of Moniuszko's opera The Countess in Warsaw, Poland, and the title role in Manon Lescaut.

In her highly acclaimed portrayal of the title role in Moniuszko's opera Halka with Sarasota Opera, Ms. Knapik was praised by Lawrence A. Johnson of The Miami Herald for "having the vocal power and idiomatic way with the native melodies, singing with pure tone and vital feeling", while "putting across the character's yearning, heartbreak and anger vividly, with a subtle psychological depth and compelling acting", and most importantly, for "exuding a charismatic star quality and radiant stage presence". The New York Times, in various reviews of her appearances with the New York Grand Opera, found her "an affecting Liu", a Nedda with "flirtatious vigor and tonal elegance", a "Manon Lescaut with wonderful high notes" and "the clear star of the show" for her Mimi.

Ms Knapik's recent concert and oratorio appearances include Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at Carnegie Hall with the New York Grand Opera in New York City, and with the Krakow Philharmonic, Poland; Poulenc's Gloria at the Kennedy Center with the Washington Chorus under Grammy winning director Robert Shafer; Strauss's Four Last Songs with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra; and Mozart's Requiem, Mozart's Solemn Vespers, Vivaldi's Gloria, Puccini's Messa di Gloria, Fauré's Requiem, North American Premiere of the Messe solennelle de Saint-Remi by Théodore Dubois and the World Premiere of the Messe de la Délivrance also by Dubois in Montreal and Ottawa with the New World Symphony Orchestra. She has sung Mendelssohn's Elijah and Handel's Messiah with the Kingston Symphony.

Her future engagements among others include appearances with the Warsaw Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Sophia Symphony Orchestra and Ottawa Symphony Orchestra.

Maria Knapik's graduate studies began in Poland at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Vocal and Acting Arts. Ms Knapik graduated from Sir Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada and studied at the Britten-Pears School of Advanced Musical Studies in Aldeburgh(England), under full scholarship. Ms Knapik has studied with opera stars Shirley Verret(University of Michigan), Licia Albanese, Patrice Munsel and known teachers and coaches such as David Jones, Dixie Neill(McGill University), Stuart Hamilton, Mary Morrison O.C. and Edith Della Pergola O.C.

Maria Knapik was born in Krakow, Poland and is the youngest of the "Eight Knapik Sisters", who performed more than 2800 concerts during numerous European tours. Ms Knapik debuted on stage as a singer and dancer at the age of three.