Biography

Born in the Scottish Borders, Emily is a third-generation musician who began singing as a teenager under the tutelage of Patricia MacMahon.

As a youngster, Emily discovered her affinity with opera as it merges her two greatest passions – music and drama – fuelling her ambition to enter a career as a professional vocalist with the ultimate goal of becoming an operatic soprano. Whilst still at school and preparing for her undergraduate studies, she was winner of the regional final of the Rotary Young Vocalist of the Year Competition and a member of the Scottish Chamber Choir.

In 2013, Emily began her Bachelor of Music with Honours degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she was taught by Helen Lawson. During her undergraduate studies, Emily regularly sang in live performances, commercial recordings, radio broadcasts, fully-staged operatic productions and opera scenes.

She has performed as a soloist and chorus member for a number of vocal ensembles including Les Sirènes Female Chamber Choir (BBC Choir of the Year 2012), the RSNO Chorus and the RCS Voices in major venues including Edinburgh’s Usher Hall and Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall. She has performed as a chorus member in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s latest production of Die Fledermaus and sung roles including Susanna from Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and Carolina from Cimarosa’s Il matriomonio segreto.

Emily’s other musical interests include Kodály Musicianship – a philosophy that focuses on the use of the voice. Emily discovered the value of this educational method when she was selected to take part in an Erasmus Exchange in the Netherlands and plans to complete her Kodály training as part of her Master of Music degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Klaudia begun her musical education at the National Music School in Poland studying flute. After moving to the Scotland she entered the Royal Conservatoire, studying voice with Helen Lawson. During her undergraduate studies she had the opportunity to collaborate with the Scottish Opera on projects that captured her imagination, including Janacek’s Cunning Little Vixen and Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea.

Klaudia’s childhood dream was to sing and act, and since discovering a love of opera she found this to be the perfect combination of her two passions. She set out to gain as much experience as possible in the operatic environment, and to study the profession at the highest level.

In 2014, Klaudia went on to gain a place on the Masters in Opera, under tutelage of Clare Shearer. Klaudia has played key roles in numerous high profile performances, and has finely developed her soprano voice. She was highly commended in the Frank Spedding Lieder competition; gained the Hugh S Roberton Prize for Scottish Singing, and won the Tony and Tania Webster Russian Song Competition 2015.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Juliet is a soprano with a voice of distinctive quality.  Born in Stirling, she grew up in a musical environment; her mother is a freelance musician who plays and teaches violin and viola.  Juliet attended Stageworx Stage School for six years before beginning tuition in classical singing.  She then went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

During her time as an undergraduate student she proved herself to be “an intelligent, musical singer of promise and a joy to teach”.  On graduating with a First Class Bachelor of Music (Honours), she was offered a coveted place for postgraduate study, reserved for only those students with the greatest talent and potential.

Juliet has played key roles in numerous operatic productions and has performed as a recitalist in a wide variety of venues including the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Halifax Minster and the Bridgewater Hall.  She has also performed solo for the prestigious Bulava Chorus, at the Notre Dame in Paris and the Cathedral of Resurrection in Kiev.

How the Award Helped

Juliet’s Award enabled her to benefit from postgraduate study at the RNCM.

She first completed a postgraduate diploma, and then received a further award to supporto continue her studies on the Masters of Music in Performance course. This course is designed to provide advanced training in solo performance.  As well as world-class one to one vocal tuition and performance opportunities, the course includes regular coaching sessions, language classes, repertoire classes, movement classes, Alexander Technique, acting technique and audition skills classes, equipping Juliet with the knowledge and experience needed to become a professional opera singer.

Biography

Hazel was born and raised in Glasgow.  A skilled opera singer with excellent technique as well as acting ability, Hazel studied at the Royal College of Music in London before returning to Scotland to study at the Royal Conservatoire.  She graduated with a first class honours and continued her studies with a masters in performance.

Hazel was chosen to represent the Conservatoire in the Maggie Teyte/Miriam Lycette competition, and successfully auditioned for the MBF awards.  Her instinctive creativity earned her roles in productions with the RCS and the Scottish Opera.  Through hard work and dedication she went on to earn a place on the MMus in Opera at the RCS.

The journey to becoming an opera singer is a long one, and the MMus offered Hazel the training she needed to prepare herself for professional performance. The course provided the opportunity to develop her skills as a performer and also as a teacher.

How the Award Helped

Biography

Martha is an enthusiastic and passionate soprano singer who has lived in Scotland since the age of 3.

Whilst studying music at the University of Aberdeen, Martha proved herself to be a strong and confident performer.  She has sung with a range of chamber choirs and choral groups, including the University of Aberdeen Gilbert & Sullivan Society and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, where she sang a solo for Prince Charles.  She also held a scholarship with the University Chapel Choir, which included recording a solo piece for their Christmas album.

When Martha was 14 her father passed away, leaving her in a difficult situation both financially and personally. In spite of her circumstances, she continued learning to sing and with a positive and dedicated approach she developed in maturity, musicality and technique.  After her Bachelors Degree, she was accepted onto a Masters in Performance at the Leeds College of Music.

Martha decided her goal was to become an opera singer.  The specialist vocal coaching available on the masters course at Leeds offered an excellent opportunity to take her to the next stage in achieving her ambitions.

How the Award Helped

Martha received a Dewar Award to support her in studying on the Masters in Performance course.

Since the Award