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
Sep 12, 1984
NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND THEIR AGES:
3 children aged 14, 11 and 2
ARTISTIC TRAINING AND ACHIEVEMENTS PRIOR TO BIRTH OF FIRST CHILD:
I was pregnant with my first child, Owen, at the relatively young age of 24. I was already on the way to establishing myself as a young operatic singer while taking time to develop a dramatic soprano instrument. I had studied voice at The Purcell School where I performed the lead role in Dido and Aeneas as well as performing as a soloist in multiple venues. I then read English as a choral scholar at Clare College, Cambridge, undertaking professional recordings and tours in Europe and USA. I sang the role of Witch in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel for CUOS, Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas for CCMS and various solo vocal recitals. Upon graduating, I studied on the Opera: Performance course at Birkbeck, UL, where I was awarded the Robert Gilchrist Award. I continued private study and was advised that, as a young dramatic soprano, my voice would take time to develop, and I therefore made the decision to begin my family at a younger age while continuing to train and establish my career.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE SWAP'RA RETREAT?
It would be an incredible opportunity to take part in the SWAPRA retreat. As a mother of three, returning to singing feels harder than ever. I was on the cusp of real career progression just as Covid took hold. I had just performed the lead role in a Hindemith opera with the LA Philharmonic, and was due to make debuts with the Berlin Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony in 2020. I was in discussion with Esa-Pekka Salonen about the possibility of singing a Maid in Elektra, and beginning to discuss representation with agents. When Covid struck, everything fell through and I had nothing ‘concrete’ to show and no dates in the diary. I made the decision to have my third child, a wonderful addition to our family but a definite impediment to my future singing career! Now as a mother of a toddler again, finding time to sing is remarkably difficult. I can only snatch moments of time here and there. The opportunity to attend a retreat where I could fully focus on my own professional development would be an absolute dream. My confidence has been understandably knocked by years of vocal ‘silence’ as concerts were canceled, and then by all the demands of motherhood. As a young dramatic soprano I also feel I have faced particular challenges, and my career has not happened in a ‘traditional’ way. I have had to combine a long development process alongside motherhood for the last 14 years and it is only very recently that I have felt in command of my instrument. The chance to work with a performance psychology coach would be particularly welcome to help me rebuild my confidence. I would so value the chance to sing again for others, receive feedback from experienced artists, have the chance to connect with other parents, and work on physical postnatal rehabilitation through the postnatal yoga that is being offered. Even the thought of applying for this opportunity has given me inspiration and resolve to begin again, dusting off arias and beginning new ones to potentially record. I feel that, in March 2025 when my youngest will be at nursery, I will be in the perfect position to fully take advantage of such an amazing opportunity as SWAPRA is offering. It would provide something wonderfully helpful practically in the chance to prepare, perform and record arias for promotion. However, more than that, I feel it would help me reestablish my identity as a singer, when, for the last few years, I have often felt like ‘just’ a mother..
DESCRIBE YOUR PRESENT LIFE AS AN ARTIST AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE:
I am slowly returning to singing teaching work and singing following my third maternity leave. Since having Nola, in the last year, I have taken on an exciting new role as ‘Create and Sing Artist’ for the Royal Ballet and Opera, which has provided exciting opportunities for occasional performance alongside fulfilling work in teaching and facilitating.
In the last year I have developed new relationships with teachers who are helping me develop my voice further: Pamela Kuhn from the US and Roberta Cunningham, based in Berlin, both of whom have helped me as a dramatic soprano and in vocal rehabilitation post childbirth and pregnancy. I am coached by Paul Plummer, now based in Oldenburg, and have undertaken workshops with The Mastersingers and with the great dramatic soprano Alwyn Mellor.
At the moment I have a part time singing teaching post in a prestigious London school alongside my work for RBO. I am looking to redress the balance so that I am doing more performance, but it has been particularly challenging with the combination of Covid and motherhood. I was on the cusp of more prestigious work but it is difficult now to find my way back in, hence why an opportunity like this SWAPRA retreat would be beneficial on so many levels.
I am currently working on building an audition package of arias that best reflect my particular USP as a young dramatic soprano who is capable of singing challenging repertoire (such as Wozzeck) with an instrument capable of Wagner, alongside creative openness and strong dramatic skills as valued by my repeated work with Simon McBurney and his team.
In the near future I would like to establish myself again as an exciting emerging young dramatic soprano, covering larger dramatic roles and performing ‘smaller’ ones such as the Elektra Maids.
I am signed up to Audition Oracle, and looking for and applying for all and any opportunities.
I am also looking to re-activate the networks that supported me between 2016 and 2019, including vocal coaches, conductors, agents and dramaturges. Before Covid arrived, I was being lined up to sing for conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, Sir Donald Runnicles and Sir Simon Rattle. One of the wonderful opportunities that SWAP’ra would give me would be the chance to make new recordings, which would really help to recreate these opportunities.
DO YOU ENVISAGE BRINGING YOUR CHILDREN WITH YOU ON THE COURSE?
No, they are at the age where they could stay at home with family help, and I would appreciate the independence!
REFEREE information:
REFEREE 1 NAME:
Lean Hausman, Director and Movement Director
REFEREE 1 EMAIL:
REFEREE 1 RELATIONSHIP:
Movement Director for LA Philharmonic ‘Weimar Nightfall’ in 2020, and worked on R&D for Simon McBurney’s Wozzeck
REFEREE 1 RESPONSE:
Position / Role Held:
Director
Length of time you have known applicant:
5 years
In what capacity have you worked with the applicant and when?
xxxx participated and performed in a project with Simon Mcburney, Essa Pekka Solonen and the LA Philharmonic
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 remarkable singer, performer and colleague. She immediately stood out in our workshop for the festival Aix en Provence upcoming production of Wozzeck. She was ready willing and available to try everything. A very quick learner musically, which in the circumstances was essential. We then employed her to work with us in LA on the Weimar project with the LA Philharmonic- Essa Pekka, Simon and Gerard Mcburney. Essa Pekka was thrilled with her vocal quality and she brought a very human side to music rarely performed. xxxx is exceptional all round.
Any other comments:
xxxx is a real emerging talent and a wonderful human being. She will benefit hugely from further development and exposure.
REFEREE 2 NAME:
Alwyn Mellor
REFEREE 2 EMAIL:
REFEREE 2 RELATIONSHIP:
Vocal coach
REFEREE 2 RESPONSE:
Position / Role Held:
Vocal coach and leader of one day courses for full lyric/dramatic voices
Length of time you have known applicant:
6 months
In what capacity have you worked with the applicant and when?
xxxx has joined my one day courses in London and also taken 1-1 coaching sessions with me. She’s a supportive member of the group and continues to be a support to me and what I’m trying to achieve with mid career fuller voiced singers.
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:
I recommend xxxx for the SWAP’ra retreat without any hesitation. She will benefit so much from this supportive and nurturing environment. xxxx is a wonderful singer and communicator , a kind and generous person and a supportive participant in my one day courses. She has massive potential as a performer and I know how much she misses that aspect of her life. She juggles so much as a mother and educationalist /teacher, which leaves little time for her to sing, and yet she gives everything to our sessions and is always incredibly well prepared. She’s intelligent and inquisitive and wants to experience so much more as a singer. I know that she would benefit greatly from what this retreat is offering. It will build her confidence, remind her how much she has to give as a singer/performer, and she will be an invaluable member of the group you choose for this retreat.
xxxx was already working as a singer, but her voice has grown and changed as often happens at this stage. She now has a voice that will suit full lyric repertoire and she is working towards those roles. She has a wonderful sense of the drama as a singer and is able to create this through her voice and physical presence. She has great musicality and musical intelligence which will benefit her greatly once she starts performing again. It’s a quality voice and xxxx deserves a future career in the roles that she is now preparing.
Any other comments:
xxxx’s life is very full and there’s little time for herself. I know how important and necessary being a singer is to her, and that she is thinking ahead to when she will have more time for herself and for her career as a singer. This retreat will help her to focus just on being a singer. It will provide a real boost to her confidence and bolster her efforts and determination to once again be a singer/performer. It’s wonderful that you can offer this for no cost to the participants, as that is often a stumbling block which prevents mid career singers/parents from receiving this much needed support amongst their peers.