Biography

Lancashire-born Fiona started her studies at the RNCM in Manchester. She moved to Scotland in 2006 to pursue postgraduate opera studies at the RSAMD.

Fiona has the rare voice type of a dramatic soprano and has her sights set on specialising in the Germanic repertoire. She is still considered young for her voice type, which needs maturity of voice to develop to its full potential.

Fiona’s tutors describe her voice as ‘thrilling’. In 2008 she received the Wagner Society of Scotland Bayreuth Bursary which funded a study trip to Bayreuth, including attendance at 3 operas. She has had masterclasses with John Tomlinson and Jane Eglen which both demonstrated her potential as a dramatic soprano. She was also awarded the coveted RSAMD Governor’s Prize for Singing. In her first year at RSAMD Fiona sang the role of First Prioress in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helps Fiona during the final year on the RSAMD opera course.

Since the Award

Biography

When she was seven Laura Kelly, from Moodiesburn, joined the Scottish Children’s National Chorus and the National Youth Choir of Scotland. Her passion for singing continued, and she went on to study singing at the RSAMD, graduating with a first class honours and achieving the top grade in her BMus final examination.

Laura possesses an attractive mezzo soprano voice with a distinctive timbre. Past awards include both the Agnes Duncan trophy and the Young Opera Society trophy at the Glasgow Music Festival. While at RSAMD, Laura won the Hugh S Robertson prize and the George McVicar Memorial prize for Scots Song. She took part in a number of the opera school’s productions, performing as mezzo soprano soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria, Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Mozart’s Coronation Mass. Laura was selected by the RSAMD to represent them in Japan at the Barakura Flower Show in Tateshina Heights.

Laura won a place at the Royal Academy of Music, London, to continue her studies with Jennifer Dakin and Audrey Hyland. She then progressed to the Master of Music (Opera) course.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Glasgow-born Patricia was educated at Holyrood Secondary School and later at Glasgow University where she studied for a law degree.

She later moved to London to pursue a career in opera. Patricia’s mezzo soprano voice both impressed and excited her tutor for its size and beauty. She is currently on the one-year intensive vocational opera programme at the prestigious National Opera Studio, which is considered to be the main UK launch-pad for great opera careers.

Patricia’s goal is to join one of the major opera companies. Already she has bookings with Scottish Opera, Opera Holland Park and the National Opera Studio Showcase.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award is supporting Patricia at the National Opera Studio.

Since the Award

Patricia writes, “My experience at the Opera Studio was overwhelmingly positive. ..The financial support I received with the Dewar [Arts] Awards allowed me to exploit and enjoy the many opportunities afforded by the training course at the Studio through the year without the pressure of constant financial anxiety.”

Patricia is currently singing Second Lady in Mozart’s Magic Flute for the English Touring Opera, and in 2010 will be singing in a new production of Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream  at Garsington Opera.

Biography

Brazilian baritone Felipe Oliveira’s parents told him to choose anything but music to study after graduating from high school. First he tried law and then medicine.

Felipe was 15 years old when he won a place in Brazil’s prestigious Alagoas State Choir and three years later became one of their soloists. Whilst still a medical student he decided to enter a singing competition and won the Revelation Prize. The jury, which included directors of two of the major international opera companies, told him to keep singing as he had talent.

Felipe gave up his medical studies to follow his dream of becoming an opera singer, firmly believing that one day he would be singing in the finest opera houses of the world.

He rapidly distinguished himself in competitions by winning in 2005 1st Male Grand Prize – Chamber Category in the Brazilian Voice Competition and 1st prize – Master Category in the Singing Festival of Maranhao State, amongst many others. He participated in many prestigious master-classes and performed in several opera productions.

Felipe first heard about the RSAMD in Glasgow from a Brazilian friend of Scottish parentage who had studied there. In 2006 he won a place on the MMus (Opera) course and, such is his outstanding talent, was immediately cast in two of the Academy’s opera productions, the title role in Tchaikovsky’s ‘Eugene Onegin’ and as Guglielmo in Mozart’s ‘Cosi fan Tutte’. Later he was selected by the distinguished German conductor, Lutz Köhler, to perform in Handel’s Messiah in 2007.

Felipe is considered to have a voice of substance, quality and power and a compelling energy and presence on stage. The finest opera houses of the world beckon.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will help to support Felipe through his MMus (Opera) course at RSAMD, Glasgow.

Since the Award

Felipe’s tutor writes, “His first year in the Opera School saw him appearing already in principal rôles in Gianni Schicchi (an amiable and well-sung performance of one of Buoso Donati’s drunken relations!) and, more impressively, the title rôle in Mozart’s Don Giovanni in June. In this rôle, which he sang in all four performances, he demonstrated a natural ease for the stage….and [he] proved his ability to learn and absorb detailed suggestions from musical, vocal and language coaches.”

Felipe is now seeking auditions with some of the main European opera companies.

Biography

Russian-born Maria Kozlova came to Glasgow after graduating in 2005 from the St Petersburg conservatoire in choral conducting with distinction. While still in St Petersburg, Maria auditioned for the RSAMD to enter the preliminary opera studies course. After two years, she won a coveted place on their Opera Course.

Maria has a strong lyric soprano voice of quality, substance and power. With a winning combination of talent, determination and potential, it is considered that she will develop a career of some distinction as a solo artist.

How the Award Helped

Since the Award

In her first year, Maria sang the role of Titania in the RSAMD production of Eugene Onegin at Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre, winning excellent reviews. In the final production of the academic year, she was selected to cover leading role Blanche in Poulenc’s Dialogue of the Carmelites. Maria’s award has been confirmed for a second and final year.

Maria successfully graduated Master of Opera with distinction from RSAMD and won the Ye Cronies Opera Award. She is currently continuing to perfom in RSAMD productions and has been offered a coveted summer 2010 contract with the Glyndebourne Opera Company. Maria plans to participate in the major international singing contests – watch out for her name.