Born in Gdańsk (Poland). She completed her studies with distinction at the Faculty of Vocals and Acting at the Stanisław Moniuszko Music Academy in Gdańsk, later she concluded her studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg also with distinction. In addition Karolina was granted scholarships from The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and also received the prestigious DAAD scholarship in Germany.
Karolina took part in vocal masterclasses led by Rolando Panerai, Paul Esswood, Larissa Gergieva, Ingrid Kremling, Angela Denoke, Gerhard Kahry, Margreet Honig and Richard Cross.
She is a prizewinner of The IV L. Różycki International Singing Competition in Gliwice (1st Prize), The VI N. Rimsky–Korsakov International Singing Competition for Young Vocalists, held in The Maryinski Theatre St. Petersburg (3rd Prize, 3 special Prizes), The 23rd Robert Stolz International Operetta Competition (2nd Prize) in Hamburg, Elise Meyer Competition, Hamburg (1st Prize).
She successfully performs oratorio and cantata music from baroque to contemporary music. She has appeared on numerous festivals and concert scenes worldwide presenting rich oratorio, cantata and chamber music repertoire: La Folle Journee au Japon Tokio (Japan), Tokio Opera City Hall, Nagoya Aichi Culture Center, The Symphony Hall, Osaka, Mozarteum Brasileiro (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Kanazawa Ishikawa Concert Hall (Japan), Shanghai Concert Hall together with The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (China), Victoria Concert Hall (Singapur), Tel Aviv Opera House; Jerusalem The Henry Crown Hall (Israel), Johannesburg, Linder Auditorium (South Africa), Istanbul, Hagia Ireni Istanbul Festival (Turkey), Granada, Granada Festival; Santander, Sala Argenta (Spain), Sun Moon Lake Festival (Taiwan), Rheingau Musik Festival (Germany), Händel-Festspiele, Dom Halle, Bodenseefestival Konstanz (Germany), “48 Stagione Concertistica 2007” Festival at Politeama Garibaldi in Palermo (Sicily), Polish Music Festival in Lviv (Ukraine), Mikkeli Music Festival (Finland), Festival Emanacje (Kraków, Poland), Festival Casals San Juan (Puerto Rico), Yuri Bashmet Festival in Minsk (Belarus), Prague Spring Festival (Czech Republic).
Karolina Sikora made her operatic debut in the role of Hänsel in the Humperdinck’s opera “Hänsel and Gretel” at the Staatstheater Lüneburg. She then performed the part of Mère Marie in Poulenc’s “Dialogues of the Carmelites” at the Theater Forum in Hamburg. Furthermore she participated in the stage production of Bach’s “The Passion of St. John” directed by Bob Wilson in coproduction with the Kiel Opera (Germany).
Since September 2009 she is cooperating with the Opera Bałtycka in Gdańsk, where she performed in the following roles: Composer in Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos”, 3rd Lady in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”, Lady in Verdi’s “Makbet”, Olga in Czajkowski’s “Eugen Oniegin”, Mother Ubu in Penderecki’s “Ubu Rex”, Rosa Sacchi in Penderecki’s “Die schwarze Maske”, Dorabella in Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte”, Jadwiga in Moniuszko’s “The Haunted Manor”. Santuzza in Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana”, Fenena in Verdi’s „Nabucco”, Amneris in Verdi’s „Aida” among others.
She is regularly cooperating with the National Opera House in Warsaw performing Olga in Tchaikovsky’s “Eugen Onegin” directed by Mariusz Trelinski, Maddalena in Verdi’s “Rigoletto” directed by Gilbert Deflo, in the renowned production of Suzanne Andrade and Barrie Kosky in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” (3rd Lady) and in Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande” (Geneviève) directed by Katie Mitchell in cooperation with Festival Aix-en-Provence in France. Furthermore, in the Opera House of Cracow she performed the role of Giovanna Seymour in Donizetti’s “Anna Bolena” and in Szczecin in a very acclaimed production of Britten’s “The Turn of the Screw” performing the role of Miss Jessel.
She has worked with such conductors as Christoph Eschenbach, Jacek Kaspszyk, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Lawrence Foster, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Thomas Hengelbrock, Krzysztof Penderecki, Lothar Koenigs, Łukasz Borowicz, Tadeusz Kozłowski, Andriy Yurkevych, George Tchitchinadze, Paweł Przytocki, Wojciech Michniewski, Friedrich Haider, Jörg-Peter Weigle, Carlo Montanaro, Patrick Fournillier.
Karolina Sikora was awarded the City of Gdańsk Prize Młody Twórca Kultury (Young Creator of Culture) and Best Polish Female Singer for the Jan Kiepura Music Theatre Awards in Poland.
As a guest soloist of the ensemble of Komische Oper Berlin she made her stage debut at Opera Houses in Moscow (Theatre Bolshoi), Paris (Théâtre national de l’Opéra Comique) as well took part in tours to Japan, China, Macau, Taiwan performing operas staged by Barrie Kosky.
Karolina Sikora worked closely with late Professor Krzysztof Penderecki. She has repeatedly participated in concerts conducted by the composer himself in Poland and abroad, performing his works: Credo, Seven Gates of Jerusalem, Te Deum. The promotion of Krzysztof Penderecki's works in Poland and around the world will continue to be an important part of the artist's future concert activity.