September is upon us and I’m about to return to London to start the second and final year of my Masters of Performance degree at the Royal College of Music.
Update Jul 2018: I’m excited to announce that in recognition of my efforts during my first year I have been given a RCM award towards my studies. This wonderful news has really boosted my enthusiasm and I can’t wait for the new term to start. I have a busy year ahead as I have to explore what options are available to me when I complete my post-graduate degree. With new repertoire to master and several engagements already booked for the months ahead, I will need to stay completely focused and immerse myself into my studies.
Update: My award is gratefully received from The RCM the Worshipful Company of Cutlers called the Charles Jacob Scholarship and the Opperby Stokowski Scholarship. This is a huge help towards part of my tutition fees for this year. I hope to meet the society members at some point to thank them in person after writing to them.
It is an exciting period for me and I can’t wait to get started. In October, I return for the final leg of the BambinO tour, teaming up again with Tim, Stuart, Laura, and the team from Scottish Opera for our performances in Glasgow.
Then on December 2nd I will be performing the Soprano solos in the Blackburn Music Society’s production of Handel’s Messiah at Blackburn Cathedral, Cathedral Close, Blackburn, BB1 5AA. We will be conducted on the day by Tom Newall and it will be great to catch up with him again. The performance starts at 7:00 pm and tickets for the event can be obtained through the BMS website.
The following Saturday, December 9th, 2017 I have been asked to perform with the Thames Philharmonic Choir for their Winter Concert conducted by John Bate. I will be singing the Soprano solos in Purcell’s ‘O Sing Unto the Lord’, Pergolesi’s ‘Magnificat’ and Handel’s ‘Laudate Pueri’. The choir will also be performing Richard Rodney Bennett’s Five Carols to complete the program. The concert will be held at All Saints Church, 14-16 Market Pl, Kingston upon Thames KT1 1JP and it starts at 7:30 pm.
As the Christmas term draws to a close I will be performing with the Salford Choral Societyaccompanied by the Northern Baroque Sinfonia. For this concert, I will again be singing the Soprano solos in Handel’s ‘Messiah’ conducted by Tom Newall. The performance will be at the Royal Northern College of Music, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD at 7:30 PM on Saturday, December 16th, 2017. Tickets for the event can be obtained through the RNCM website.
I have always loved to sing and perform and over the years that I have been studying, both in Glasgow and now here in London, I can honestly say that this love affair with singing has developed into a true passion. The intensity of emotion that I experience each time I perform brings a joy to me that is hard to explain, I just know that I never want it to end. So, whatever the future has in store for me I hope that singing will be a huge part of it.