Italo-Australlan operatic performer and vocal coach, Michelle Francis cook, graduated from st Monica's college and studied at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) Australia, where she received her Degree in Opera and received an award for Best Voice. Additionally she studied at the National Academy of Music (ANAM). Shortly after graduation, Michelle performed the roles of Mimi, Glorgetta, and Anne Trulove with Melbourne City Opera and Opera Australia (OzOpera). She won 1st prize with the Acclaim Awards Australia (a scholarship to study opera technique in Italy) she spent a year in the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Formazione, Italy, where she sang the role of Madama Cortese, II Viaggio a Reims (Rossini)

Other studies include Campus Opera, Gran Canaria, Spain. Over the years Michelle studied with prestigious teachers including Erik Halfvarson, Cristina Gallardo-Domas, Margaret Baker - Genovesi, Paolo Washington and Francesca Roig Clot.

Michelle received private tuition with Wagnerian opera soprano, Deborah Polaski in Berlin and the esteemed Montserrat Caballe vocal technique in Barcelona. Michelle performed Le Donne di Giacomo Puccini. Australia, and roles in the Puccini Festival. in Torre del Lago, Italy. Other roles include Leonora, Il Trovatore, Tosca, Puccini and Santuzza from Cavalleria Rusticana. with enormous success.

Michelle has recorded a CD with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra in the Czech Republic and sung operas and concerts in the Oviedo Opera Alredador concert or Massenet, and Donna Elvira in the opera Don Giovanni, (Mozart). Since 2007 Michelle has sung roles in the Gran Teatre del Liceu: 4th Magd and Schleppträgerin of Elektra, Strauss, Pepa Tiefland and Prilepa in Pikovaya Dama, roles in Der Rosenkavalier, Les Mamelles de Tiresias, and Die Walküre (Wagner) alongside Placido Domingo.

Throughout the years Michelle sang in various concerts singing Spinto soprano and Mezzo Soprano repertoire. In September 2016, she sang Carmen (Bizet) in Terrassa, Barcelona, and Tosca in 2017, touring France and Spain with the acclaimed opera productions Opera2001 with great critique.She successfully performed the role of Aida (Verdi) for AOIST opera productions in November 2018.

During her performance career she was taught many contemporary and classical students in private tuition, launching MFC VOCAL STUDIO based in Barcelona. She was also employed by Carro de Baco Theatre Academy as head of the vocal department where she taught over 100 students to sing contemporary and music theatre over 9 years.

Her focus was vocal technique, stage craft, choir and ensemble, diction and performance confidence. Her academy students performed biannually in the Santa Coloma theatre,, Spain gaining performance experience with several students participating In The Voice (La voz) Spain, reaching the Finals of The Voice singing the genre Soul.

Michelle, now back in Australia, has opened her Melbourne teaching studio MFC VOCAL. where she teaches classical and contemporary students both in-person and online (international, interstate and locally). She was recently appointed the Acclaim Awards Vocal Coach for the finalists of their prestigious scholarship. She trains the prize winners of the Academic Award in Opera Italian language, vocal technique, performance and European career preparation.

As a singer in Melbourne, she enjoys performing high-end corporate events, recitals and concerts, as well as weddings and funerals in churches and venues throughout Victoria. She also travels to sing opera in Barcelona, Spain and plans to continue operatic performance in other parts of Europe.