Inara Molinari's connection with the arts scene in western Sydney began twenty years ago, when she established “Opera West”in Wentworthville, a weekly course for aspiring opera and music theatre singers.
After returning from the USA in 2000, Inara founded “The Tall Poppeas”, Sydney’s only female baroque vocal ensemble that delivered innovative programs throughout Sydney and interstate for ten years, including staging an original opera for the Darlinghurst Theatre (now Hayes Theatre) and Melbourne Fringe Festival, and a featured program for the Historic Houses Trust at Government House.
In 2011, Inara co-founded Ondine Productions. Its first project was fully staging the Australian premiere performance of La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina (1625), by the first female composer of opera, Francesca Caccini. The production received critical acclaim and was short-listed for an ArtsHub award in 2012. Subsequently the company produced the first reduced semi-staging of Philip Glass's opera Akhnaten on early instruments, with infused bespoke perfume and with the composer's thumbs up !
As Production Manager for River City Voices, Inara conceived and produced the project Cumberland Gets Anime-ted! for the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival featuring new choral arrangements of music from Japanese anime films. Other projects she has managed include: the Parramatta premiere “Come & Sing” performance of Carmina Burana, a community participatory event rehearsed over an intensive weekend engaging 100 professional and community singers, musicians and students; a sold-out Parramatta performance of Handel’s Messiah collaborating with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Orchestra, and Slam Messiah a re-imagined version of the Messiah featuring slam poets; the recording project Welded Voices that saw the release of a CD What the World Needs, followed by a live performance/launch featured on the ABC’s Art Works program; coordinating the massed choir for a performance on the Opera House Monumental Steps for its opening 50th birthday celebrations and onstage performances for its closing 50th performance Open House Weekend, and two luscious performances at St Patrick's Cathedral, Lux Aeterna and Blue Sky Country Christmas a collaboration with Ngarra-burria First Peoples composers Program.
Inara has also coordinated members of the choir to rehearse and appear in a televised commercial for Catch.com.au.
As a professional singer, Inara has performed with Opera Australia (1993-2009), OZOpera, Cantillation, Symphony of Australia, San Francisco’s Pocket Opera, Adelaide’s CoOpera and Childsplay Productions. She has performed music theatre supporting roles in Annie and Beauty and the Beast (Packemin Productions, Riverside Theatres) to name a few. She was a finalist in the Opera Foundation Covent Garden Scholarship and one of 14 semi-finalists in the McDonalds Aria adjudicated by Dame Joan Sutherland.
Inara has been a passionate community advocate and volunteer in her local 'hoods of Granville and Parramatta, forging strong relationships with local government, community and arts organisations, including membership of Cumberland City Council's Arts Advisory Committee, 2018-2019.
She holds Bachelor degrees in Arts/Law (USyd) and Nursing (ACU), and a Diploma in Operatic Studies (Sydney Conservatorium of Music).
She is a member of Female Founder Connect and in 2023 was a Finalist in the Western Sydney Women Awards (Performing and Creative Arts).