Welcome To My Blog

“Welcome to my blog. I started blogging in March 2013 as a first-year Bachelor of Music student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I was born in Winsford, Cheshire, in NW England, there is more about my childhood here“

Here are some of my favourite blog post links with my resume.

Charlotte won the Pendine International Voice of the Future award 2018 at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. She previously won the Audience Prize in the Kathleen Ferrier Bursary Competition; and was Highly Commended in the RCS Jean Highgate Competition; third place in the Hugh S Roberton Scots Song Competition during her second year at the RCS 2013 and was the vocal winner of the Warrington Competition for Young Musicians.

Following five-star reviews in 2017 for her ‘Uccelina’ in Scottish Opera/MIF/Improbable’s immersive opera for babies and toddlers ‘BambinO’ Charlotte continued the role in a tour of Paris organised by the Théâtre du Châtelet and subsequently the Metropolitan Opera in New York for a series of sold-out shows, she joined the second BambinO cast for a Scottish Highlands tour in autumn 2018 and created a digital version with Improbable in 2022.

Summer 2018, Charlotte performed in the inaugural Waterperry Opera Festival’s manor house creation of ‘Mansfield Park’ as ‘Maria Bertram’, and ‘Cunegonde’ in Surrey Opera’s ‘Candide’ at the magnificent cliff-top Minack Outdoor Theatre, Cornwall. She was guest soloist at the Tideswell Male Voice Choir Remembrance Concert on November 11th and sang in the Rachmaninov recital at Pushkin House in Bloomsbury, London. Concluding 2018 as ‘The Plaintiff’ in the one-act G&S Opera ‘Trial by Jury’ for Surrey Opera.

Previous opera roles include Zerlina (Don Giovanni) Manchester; Frasquita (Carmen) Berlin, Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel) Italy; First Witch (Dido and Aeneas) Scotland; and Eve (Dove’s:  The Walk from the Garden) and Jessie Jnr (The Little White Town of Never Weary) for Scottish Opera.

Concert highlights included: Soprano Soloist with Skipton Camerata with the irrepressible Ben Crick just before Covid19 lockdown in March 2019 The Dance of the Furies;   “La Dolce Speranza” by Carl Maria von Weber, conducted by Ben Palmer at The Royal College of Music. A Duet at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with the orchestra of Scottish Opera and as a soloist in venues such as the Buxton Opera House, Gawsworth Hall, and The Edinburgh Fringe.  Purcell’s O Sing Unto the Lord, Pergolesi’s Magnificat and Handel’s Psalm 112 Laudate Pueri Dominium conducted by John Bate.  Messiah soprano solo’s with Northern Baroque Sinfonia and the Salford Choral Society and the Lancashire Chamber Orchestra and Blackburn Music Society at Blackburn Cathedral conducted by Tom Newall.

As one of several students from European Conservatoires, she took part in a vocal masterclass with W. Stephen Smith at the AMUZ centre in Antwerp, Belgium. As a lied duo Charlotte and pianist George Todica experienced a week of intensive masterclasses as part of the International Edvard Grieg Society’s conference in Bergen, Norway, which culminated with her performing songs from ‘Haugtussa’ at a concert in Grieg’s home in Troldhaugen with a helpful travel award from the Hope Scott Trust; the duo then performed at the Leeds Lieder Festival Fringe Concert. Charlotte also sang with pianist Dr. Leslie Howard at the Joint Music Societies Dinner representing the Gustav Mahler Society and a recital of Alma Mahler’s songs at the Royal Academy of Art ‘Women in Music’ following recitals in Catalonia performing alongside pianist Nestor Bayona at the Auditori Municipal Enric Granados, Lleida and at the Musitekton, Barcelona.

Charlotte holds a Master’s in Performance (Voice) from the Royal College of Music where she studied with Prof. Rosa Mannion, Andrew Robinson, and Simon Lepper, and a First Class Honours Degree in Music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, studying under Judith Howarth. She is a dancer passing RAD ballet module at the highest grade whilst at the RCS, BBO qualifications tap and ballet at grade 7, IDTA Ballroom, Latin, Club and advanced level Contemporary dance. She is also a 2nd Black Belt Dan in Karate, winning several National championships.

At the Royal College of Music she was supported by The Kathleen Trust and was an RCM award holder supported by the Charles Jacob Scholarship from the Worshipful Company of Cutlers; the Opperby Stokowski Scholarship; and a personal award provided to the RCM from Edwin and Hilary Custance Green who have also provided her with encouragement, advice and support during her studies. Charlotte successfully auditioned for The Josephine Baker Trust who work with young singers in the early years of their careers.

Her opera scenes have included:

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1,689 thoughts on “Welcome To My Blog”

  2. Hi Charlotte,
    I may go by naptimethoughts, and I’m a stay at home mom now, but my background is in classical voice. I studied at NYU and Westminster Choir College, although I never made a go of it. I ended up with a degree in music business (and it served me well). I recently met some men from your side of the pond, the current Kings Singers were at Carnegie Hall, and we were lucky enough to spend some time with them. You’ve chosen a tough path for yourself, and I wish you every bit of luck at it. I’m looking forward to watching your career blossom in my email box!

    Reply

    1. Hi there and thanks for dropping by and for your thoughtful comment. I am under no illusion as to the difficulty of the path that I have chosen to follow but I feel that I have to give it my best shot. I love to sing and through study I want to better understand how to develop and protect my voice as I move forward in the coming years. The help and guidance from people like yourself has been a wonderful unexpected benefit from starting my blog. I hope that you can come back and visit from time to time.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  3. Hi Charlotte, thanks for liking my post and for the follow. I wish you good luck with your journey and I hope you will become a great opera singer. 😀 (psst, I think you will 😉 )

    Reply

  4. Hi Charlotte,
    Thanks for following my blog, which is just some of my creative writing. Thank you also for sharing your music. So beautiful! Best wishes with your music and career.
    Pooja

    Reply

  8. Hi Charlotte,

    Thanks very much for the visit and like for my post Not by Bread Alone: Schubert and Cheese Scones. I’m glad you enjoyed it and hope that from time to time I can share other music that you will like.

    In the meantime I look forward to following the progress of your career. You are the guardian of a great gift, one that can enrich the lives of many.

    Helena

    Reply

    1. Hi Helena, I really enjoy singing German lieder and am always looking for people’s favourites to add to my repertoire. Thanks for visiting.

      Best Wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  9. Thanks for following my blog Charlotte. I’d love to hear you sing but my pc is poorly and I can only download from youtube at the moment. Like Britten’s songs and what little I hear of Faure and other French composers of chanson. Also “Lulu”! Best wishes and lots of luck!

    Reply

    1. I’m sorry you have no speakers, I have nothing on You Tube at the moment and will let you know when I do. Lulu, the Scottish singer and actress? If so I admire any lady that stays successfully in the business for as long as she has. Hope you can visit again soon.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. Not that Lulu – the opera! By Alban Berg. I think the ENO did it last year. Difficult role but maybe you could amash it. Won’t bore you with the details of my computer woes, but always willing for sponsorship from a prosperous diva; maybe we’ll talk about that in a few years…Do let me know about your youtube links; it’s all I can manage on Linux with my VLC player. Spoke to my niece. She doesn’t know you but will be in Glasgow next term. I hope you can become friends but obviously that’s a matter for the pair of you. Thanks so much for conversing, John

      2. Hi John, I did wonder and thanks for clearing that up 🙂 I have just checked out the storyline for the opera and is an interesting story with plenty to go at for the Soprano role for Lulu. If I bump into your niece I will let you know. Do you know which campus she is on and which course is she is doing?

        Warmest wishes
        Charlotte

  10. Thanks for the follow 🙂 Looks like you’re on a very special journey, sending you positive vibes from the Southern Hemisphere.
    dx

    Reply

    1. Hello Danni, thank you for visiting my blog, I read that you have worked in sales for the last few years, that is a tough job, I do some telephone sales to businesses in the Summer along with customer services and although some calls are rewarding and friendly some are unfriendly.

      Best wishes,
      Charlotte

      Reply

  12. Charlotte,

    Thank you for your wondrous voice! And thanks for visiting bourneworks.com, where I express a creative self in another way. You might also enjoy ourherstory.net, where I share words and works of many other creative women. All our herstories matter, eh?

    Best, Susan

    Reply

    1. No problem, your blog is inspirational and I am pleased to see that you have such a positive attitude, thanks for returning the favour and come back again soon.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Hi Martin, thanks for taking the time to drop by. I have just finished my two sets at the Eastwood Rotary Club Charity concert and I really enjoyed the evening. I am sat in the reception and using my time to get my replies out to everyone 🙂 I hope that you can pop back and perhaps give me some tips on how to take better photographs.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. Hi Charlotte,

        Taking photos (for me) is like writing poetry… simply let it be, take what you see and don’t worry about if anyone else will look at it (or read it). Take them for you. However the best photos are the ones you don’t look for… you’ll know them because they’ll spring upon you and you’ll feel the picture asking to be taken… as with poetry, let it be and simply write the feeling, simply take the feeling before you 🙂

        That’s what I do… what is, is 🙂

        Martin

      2. Thanks Martin, I always seem to arrive at venues with just my mobile phone and not my camera 🙂

        The lens is not ideal as it such a wide angle that it can distort my pictures. Do you know of a way to get better balance with such a lens?

        Warmest wishes
        Charlotte

    1. Ahoy! (what’s with the nautical greeting my Grandpa was in the Merchant Navy 🙂 ) enjoyed your Soprano poem, I always love to see people smile at the end of a beautiful, uplifting song.

      Best wishes to you,
      Charlotte

      Reply

  18. Hey! Thanks for the follow on my photography blog. I hope some of my photos can stir some creativity! Your voice is awesome! The school I’m going to right now has more music majors than anything else, and I’ve been to some senior recitals and heard a few classicaly trained voices. Keep it up! Seems like you’ve got enough gumption to pursue your dreams and acheive your goals!

    Reply

    1. Hi Lizzy, yes it is surprising how photographs can inspire you, I have to compose music as part of my course and create these stories to tell in song so any visual stimulus really helps me. I love to see how people view the world around them and photographs are a great way to share. Hope you can visit again.

      Best Wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Hi Sophie, how are you enjoying your course? Your artwork is really interesting and I hope that you get as much from your course as do from mine. I hope that you can drop by again soon.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  20. Dear Charlotte:

    I hope that the cycle of readings in The Bible Through the Seasons will find you in a community of those who want to follow the call of God on their lives. I wish and pray for every success in your future, and the fond hope that you will find God’s love every step of the way.

    Reply

  21. Thanks for following Community of the Incarnation. I’ll keep you in mind when I write inspirational pieces. I listened to your links – you have a mature voice for one so young. You’re a contralto? Or a coloratura? I’m quite impressed and really liked listing to your links (and especially liked Amor…).. Being an artist is an exacting journey. I know. And I wish you courage and “fortunato” in your journey.

    Reply

    1. Hi Janet, I am glad that you enjoyed my recordings. I know that I have so much training still to complete but I am really looking forward to it. It is a difficult path but one that I find personally very rewarding.

      Thanks for visiting and come back again soon.
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Hi Faith, thanks for the link I have had a good look over your cousin’s site and it is great to see someone that has already completed their training and is making a career from their singing.

      How did you decide on the subjects to write about in your books?

      Warmest wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. My first one was a catharsis after a bad relationship, so after that I just kept writing what I knew. But now the focus will be on kids and I am very excited! Best to you in your journey.

      2. Well I certainly wish you every success with your future projects and I am sure that your venture into children’s books will go well for you.

        Warmest wishes
        Charlotte

    1. Hi Alex, thanks for dropping by and visiting with me. Had you a particular piece in mind ? I have been fortunate to work alongside a number of young composers prior to starting at the RCS and really enjoyed it.

      Here is an example Joss Smith recorded at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music a year ago. ( Link ) and George Rimmer’s classical contemporary piece Symborealis ( Link ).

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. I’ve sung in different choruses, which is all acapella singing.We sing in nursing homes, prisons & such like, so it is what you could call a singing ministry. My favorites are old Hymns.
        Thanks for asking,
        Missie

      3. Hi again, Charlotte, yes I really do enjoy it! I would gladly send you a cd (of one of the choruses) free of charge if you would like hear one. You have a very pretty singing voice. 🙂 Thanks for your time!
        Warmest wishes,
        Missie

      4. Hi Missie, I would love to hear you sing maybe you could e-mail me one of your songs as an attachment as I am concerned about the postal costs as I am not sure how to get you the money for the postage.

        Warmest wishes
        Charlotte

  30. Thanks for following my blog, I wish you all the success in the pursuit of your dream. We all like to follow our dreams, sadly only a few get to do it. So go for it.
    Andrew

    Reply

  32. very inspiring! Thank you for the pleasure of having you following my blog! Yours seems very nice and I will follow for sure! 🙂

    Reply

  33. Charlotte, thanks for visiting my blog! I’m excited to connect with someone else who’s pursuing their dreams. You have an awesome voice! Can’t wait to read all your posts and keep up with you on your journey.

    Best wishes!

    Brendan

    Reply

    1. Thanks for dropping by and spending some time on my blog, we both share a passion for what we want to do so keep focused and enjoy the journey 🙂

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  34. Thank you for following my blog, Charlotte!
    ﾟ･*:.｡. .｡.:тндйк уoц　(○・∀・)b тндйк уoцﾟ･*:.｡. .｡.:
    I’m a Rock/Pop singer. Good luck with your dream!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting Chelsea, I loved your pink wedges, but be careful in them they’re lethal if you turn your ankle over in them the whole foot goes over.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  35. Hi – writing this blog will help you express yourself. My blogs have helped me as well. I am listening to your singing as I write. Opera is something I have followed for most of my adult life. I met Maureen Forester [was a Canadian Opera singer – a contralto] in Paris while I was living in Paris. She recounted the hard work and excitement of learning abroad – learning to sing in different languages, under various teachers. She was delightful and humble, despite her success, She encouraged me to grow and explore my art. May your journey be as positive.

    Reply

    1. Hi Jacueline, I would love to meet someone like Maureen Forester and chat about their time in Opera 🙂 I enjoyed looking through your art on your blog and I am glad you continued to develop your creative side. I hope that you can come back and visit with me again soon.

      Warmest wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Hi Mike, thanks for dropping by for a visit. Are both you and your wife involved with the print shop ? I had a look over your site and it looks really exciting, I love to see people keeping creative skills alive 🙂

      Best wishes to you both and I hope that you can call back again soon.
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting my site and for your lovely comment. I can see from your own blog and the way that you present your thoughts that you are a considerate person. Please come back and visit with me again if you have the time 🙂

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  38. Hi there! Thanks for liking and following my blog! You have a beautiful voice by the way. Its strong yet delicate. I like it a lot 😀 I just know that you’ll be a great singer in the future. Just keep moving forward for a brighter future! Let’s keep in touch ok? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Hi Icha, thanks for visiting and I appreciate your lovely comment. Don’t stop writing down your thoughts for us to share with you. Keep smiling and enjoy what life throws at you 🙂

      Best wishes and please come back and visit wit me again soon.
      Charlotte

      Reply

  39. Hi Charlotte,
    Thanks for following my blog Est Est Est. If only we’d met sooner, albeit virtually, we could have met in person whist you were in Cortona, it’s about 20 mins away from us.
    You have a truly lovely voice and I’m sure you’ll have a great future, will be following you
    🙂
    Lesley

    Reply

    1. Hi Lesley, are you based in Cortona or were you there on holiday ? I have some fantastic memories from my trip and will cherish the experience 🙂 Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to listen to my recordings I do appreciate the feedback. You are welcome here whenever you have the time to drop by and visit.

      Warmest wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. Hi Charlotte,
        We live here, living the dream and loving the reality! If you come over again let me know, it would be lovely to meet up.
        Best wishes,
        Lesley

    1. Hi Virgilio, thanks for coming to visit my site and taking the time to read through some of my posts. I enjoy reading through the thoughts of the people whose blogs I follow and find it helps me to better understand the world around me 🙂

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting Jo, I’ve always lived in towns and now a City so looking at your blog is a great peep into another world. I hope you enjoy my recordings.
      Adios and Best Wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Thanks for your lovely comment Jim, I’ve never been a runner and always to prefer sprinting rather than long distance races, although I used to do lots of endurance swimming for two hours each session. This helped to build up lung capacity I’m sure 🙂

      Best Wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Thanks Sarah, I loved your craft work and origami, my friend Sam taught me how to make swans and I put them on a hanger and took them to college with me.

      Best Wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. Thanks for visiting my blog. I’m glad you liked it. I’ve never made an origami swan but I’ve just started doing a modular origami one for a friend. It’s taking forever!

    1. Thanks for dropping by and your good wishes, I’m not a good gardener in fact, said in a hushed voice, the only plants I have are fake! My Grandpa Len and Grandad John are big gardeners though, there was nothing I liked more when I was little than visiting my Grandpa in Kent and picking his fresh tomatoes and vegetables for tea, my Grandad only started up a few years ago when he retired but he grows everything now and more and more of the flower garden is being given over to Veggies.

      Best Wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  45. Thanks for liking and following my blog about Mexico, Alaska, and wherever else. Best wishes on your singing journey; I look forward to listening to your success!

    Reply

    1. Hi Philip, I love to sing The Three Ravens, it is one of my favourite folk songs, I won an adult open competition with it in Blackpool, Lancashire one year, there were so many verses I drew pictures of each scene to remember them in order. When I sang ‘she lifted up his bludy (bloody) head’ I sang it how I typed it there in a real Northern accent and I had a few wide eyed looks, as you said you can create real feeling and Goosebumps with the lyrics and a melancholy style to this song. I love your writing I’m going to get my brother to take a look at your blog he’s doing a creative writing class and creating a play at the moment. If you have any other favourite songs please pass them on,
      Best wishes,
      Charlotte,

      Reply

      1. Hi Charlotte,
        As a suggestion, I suppose “She Moved Through The Fair” is a classic. Here is a version with piano:
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdrqkMvCx3I
        I saw “All About Eve” perform this live in Cologne many years ago. It’s very haunting.

        Your brother is writing a play – that’s quite a challenge. Has your brother had anything published yet?
        A blog focussed exclusively on writing is probably a good sounding board for a writer. I assume he already has such a blog?

        My blog is just a beginning; I’m testing the water. I’ve haven’t posted any of my stories yet.
        I teach English, so I want to put up more English related subjects for my students to read. However, at the moment, the blog is a disjointed rambling journal.
        When I get focussed, I want to upload some of the music I have composed on the NS Stick. This is a tapping instrument which generates a sound that is between a piano and guitar, a very clear, bell-like tone. However, it’s a very difficult to play.

        Good luck with your music

        Bye,

        Phil

      2. Hi Phil, It is great to hear how other artists portray a song and I appreciate you taking the time to send me this link 🙂 My brother enjoys creative writing but was persuaded to pursue a more academic path at school. In order to continue exploring writing he joined a youth group at the Royal Exchange Theater in Manchester and through them got one of his short plays performed on stage by professional actors. It was quite exciting for him to see the audience reaction to something that had come from his own imagination.

        Keep up with your creative side and I look forward to reading more about it on your blog.

        Warmest wishes
        Charlotte

    1. Thanks for popping by my blog Lashell, I’ve never heard that first name before, both my Nana and Grandma are big readers of romance novels, my Nan used her Christmas money to buy a Kindle last year and took up classes so she can go on the internet. I’ll mention your name to them both they’re always looking for new stories.

      Best Wishes,
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Hi Cita, You have a cool blog too, what’s not to like about fashion, food and fun. I love Mexican food too, we have a restaurant chain in the UK called Chiquitos. After work I just picked up a frozen yogurt with fresh fruit and am dashing to a rehearsal for my concert in Nantwich a fortnight on Thursday. Then I’m going to see my brother in a dance show. I didn’t bring a spare top to change into through so I’ve ticked food and fun today.

      Best Wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Thanks for your visit and good luck coming my way. I am definitely going to try your Carrot and Orange Soup recipe when I get back to college, is it good cold?

      Best Wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

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