SWAP'ra RETREAT APPLICATIONS
applicant information:
FIRST NAME:
FIRST NAME HIDDEN FOR 1ST ROUND
EMAIL:
EMAIL HIDDEN FOR 1ST ROUND
LAST NAME:
LAST NAME HIDDEN FOR 1ST ROUND
PHONE:
PHONE HIDDEN FOR 1ST ROUND
DATE OF BIRTH
Oct 21, 1987
NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND THEIR AGES:
Two children. 4yrs and 10months.
ARTISTIC TRAINING AND ACHIEVEMENTS PRIOR TO BIRTH OF FIRST CHILD:
I Graduated from The Ballet Rambert (BA HONS), and trained at The Arts Educational school, before training in classical singing with Jenny Miller (Barefoot Opera). Continued private study with Arwel Treharne-Morgan and Steven Maughan. Shortlisted by the Wales Theatre Awards in the category for Best Female Opera Singer in Polly Graham’s award winning production of Kommilitonen! with the Welsh National Youth Opera. Career highlights include Calisto/La Calisto (Emerging Artist Longborough Festival Opera), Giulietta/I Capuleti e I Montecchi (Grimeborn), Envy/Beauty and the Seven Beasts (The Opera Story), Bubikopf/Der Kaiser von Atlantis (Loud Crowd). Featured soloist in a new radio series for children 'Open Up the Opera House' in collaboration with Little Radio and CBBC's Chris Jarvis with Charles Court Opera. More recently, I have worked for Scottish Opera, in creating the world premiere of Golihov's Ainadamar culminating in a uk wide tour, with residencies in both Edinburgh & Cardiff WNO
WHY DO YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE SWAP'RA RETREAT?
Taking part in this retreat offers a unique opportunity for me to explore my continuing role as both an opera singer, and as a mother of two children. In particular, I wish to gain insight into attaining a good work and family-life balance, as I believe this is fundamental to the longevity and sustainability of my career for the future. This is important to me, as Opera and the arts have always been my main sources of income, and I would like to be able to continue providing for my family, whilst prioritising our happiness and welfare. This balance can be hard to achieve, as so much of my work involves touring and being away from home.
From a creative perspective, I am interested in exploring the intersection between who I am both as an artist and a parent, as I believe this is a rich source of inspiration. I feel motivated to use my presence in the industry to try to highlight how working practices can be adapted for performers with children, and offer support to other artist who are hoping to start a family, but who might be held back by the fear of the negative impact on their careers. This is something I feel very passionately about.
I would also like to share some of my positive experiences with other performers on the retreat, having worked recently on developing an opera for children from birth to three at the Hamburg Philarmonie. This involved travelling to Hamburg with my partner and young children, where the adaptability of the company, and their ethos, allowed me to continue breast feeding whilst rehearsing and performing.
I would like to continue to build on the relationships I created with the companies I have been working with since becoming a parent.
The work I have done since the birth of my second child has been challenging both physically and emotionally, but also very rewarding. Now that my baby is approaching her first birthday, she is becoming less dependant on me, and I am ready to spend more time away from her and am able to embark on a period of sustained creative input, with guidance on how to approach the profession as a mother of two small children. Receiving guidance on repertoire is particularly important to me as I feel I have changed matured as a person as well as vocally. As well as this presenting an opportunity for artistic growth, it has to be said that these dramatic changes have often felt like something that I’m struggling against, which in turn has had an emotional impact on me.
DESCRIBE YOUR PRESENT LIFE AS AN ARTIST AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE:
Currently I am juggling the responsibilities of childcare and home duties with career, practice and work with my partner who is also a freelance musician. I teach Yoga on zoom twice a week and lead a weekly music and theatre group for parents, carers, babies and toddlers. My aim at the moment is to keep a stable singing practice going, to build a strong repertoire to audition with and record next year and have regular coachings when I am able to. I regularly coach with Steven Maughan and travelled to Glyndebourne many times this summer. Next month I will take part in a collaborative workshop with Arwel Treharne-Morgan, Liz Upchurch and Tom Guthrie. I also coach regularly with Louise Winter and Caroline Dowdle.
This year I made my recital debut in the Linbury Foyer at the Royal Opera House and will be singing numerous roles for the Royal Ballet & Opera Create & Sing programme, in new operas for children, SEND audiences and babies. My upcoming project includes singing the title role in 'RED!' an interactive opera for children. I have to record learning tracks for RBO and Barefoot youth opera choruses this month. This will then be performed throughout the autumn in various schools in Hastings and St.Leonards with Barefoot Opera and at RBO's Family Sunday on 30th March in a joint project with singers from their Youth Opera Company and Young Voices at The Opera House.
Other performances I am taking part in next year for RBO's Family Sundays are revival's of both
John Savornin's 'Dewi In The Deep' with Charles Court Opera and as Lyra in Freya Wynn-Jones's 'Catch A Seastar' with Seaglass Arts.
I had been offered a tour with Scottish Opera and Opera Holland Park as a Grisette in The `Merry Widow and Trial By Jury (double bill), but sadly was not able to accept. This was in part due to having other work commitments already in place which would have meant being away from home for several months. However, with having a very small baby I could not sustain the many months away from home and family for this year in particular.
As mentioned, I am putting together strong repertoire, 5/6 arias I can record in preparation for auditions next year.The creation and effective release of videos and sound recordings, and the role that this plays in our careers in a digital age, is something I am keen to explore more of.
I am learning Poulenc's 'La Voix Humaine' with the intention of performing it in hastings, directed by Callie Nestlewroth in Summer 2025.
DO YOU ENVISAGE BRINGING YOUR CHILDREN WITH YOU ON THE COURSE?
My youngest daughter Lila is ten months old, and I am breastfeeding her, which means that we haven’t spent more than eight hours apart since she was born. Where work has been further afield from home, it has been necessary for either my partner or mother to come with me to help care for her during rehearsals and performances. I would like to explore which options are available to me if I did choose to bring her to the retreat, and if I would be able to bring my partner to help me.
REFEREE information:
REFEREE 1 NAME:
Freya Wynn-Jones
REFEREE 1 EMAIL:
REFEREE 1 RELATIONSHIP:
Director
REFEREE 1 RESPONSE:
Position / Role Held:
Stage Director
Length of time you have known applicant:
10 months
In what capacity have you worked with the applicant and when?
I directed xxxx in a production which was performed in February of 2023
Would you recommend the applicant for the SWAP’ra Retreat? Please describe the applicant’s ability and potential to build a successful career in opera/classical singing:
xxxx and I worked together just after the birth of her second child on an opera aimed at babies and their carers which toured to Hamburg and Luxembourg. She called me shortly before the rehearsals started to let me know what she needed to be her best - because that's what she is constantly striving for and this assertiveness alongside her curiosity and drive helps her achieve great things. Her attitude in the rehearsal room was focussed, geared to excellence but also playful and open - amazing things to have to work with in the best of circumstances, let alone 8 weeks post-partum. During the performances, xxxx had a desire to keep things fresh, was able to respond to the needs of the audience (babies inhabit the stage space), reassure, calm and welcome all whilst staying firmly within her character and deliver a wonderful musical experience. She was flexible, able to respond quickly to feedback and notes and worked hard to never get stuck in anything but the present. She gave considered thought to every element of the role and was a wonderful ensemble cast member, supporting other members of the company to step into their own power and bringing her skill with generosity when needed. She was a confident and adept improviser both physically and vocally and I very much enjoyed the relationship we formed together to discover her character and role. She is a true collaborator, willing to try things and knowing what she needs and how to ask for it.
xxxx has already had many experiences building a strong career for herself in both chorus and solo work. She is a hugely kind soul with a focus and hunger to be working and creative which would make her an amazing candidate for the SWAP'ra retreat. She's a beautiful singer and truly engaging to watch. She can turn her hand to movement, spoken word and puppeteering with ease and she's always 100% engaged in all of these additional disciplines, pushing herself to see how far she can build these skills and give a wonderful vocal performance simultaneously. She feels like a modern performer in this respect, fresh and engaging and questioning of the art form.
REFEREE 2 NAME:
John Savournin
REFEREE 2 EMAIL:
REFEREE 2 RELATIONSHIP:
Director
REFEREE 2 RESPONSE:
Position / Role Held:
Director
Length of time you have known applicant:
One year
In what capacity have you worked with the applicant and when?
As director and performer
Would you recommend the applicant for the SWAP’ra Retreat? Please describe the applicant’s ability and potential to build a successful career in opera/classical singing:
xxxx is a fantastic artist, and I would highly recommend her for the retreat. She juggles a successful, busy diary with her family, who support her beautifully, and is deeply committed to performing and staying a part of the opera industry in a varied and inspiring way.