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
Dec 14, 1987
NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND THEIR AGES:
1 child, aged 2
ARTISTIC TRAINING AND ACHIEVEMENTS PRIOR TO BIRTH OF FIRST CHILD:
I have a 1st Class Bmus Hons from RNCM, and I trained on ENO's Opera Works. I've been working professionally since 2010. Part of our decision to have a baby was because my career was going well at the time - I had regular chorus work at ENO and ROH, plenty of roles in smaller companies, and I had just completed my first principal role at ENO. Then in the year that I was pregnant, Putin invaded Ukraine, the cost of living crisis began, opera companies began to lose swathes of funding, and getting back to work after giving birth became so much harder.
WHY DO YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE SWAP'RA RETREAT?
I applied for the previous retreat and was unsuccessful. I almost didn't apply again because I am not facing the same newborn challenges, but when I thought about it, I am actually facing equally difficult challenges, they are just different. When I was working with a young baby, exhausted and hormonal as I was, I was protected by my breastfeeding mother status, and could bring my child everywhere as she just lay in her pram and was reasonably quiet most of the time. Now I have a boisterous toddler who absolutely will not stay still or quiet, and I can't bring her to work at all. My husband is also a singer, and we can't afford to pay for childcare, so most of the time one of us has to stay home to take care of our daughter. Our income has dropped dramatically, and with the cost of living we are only just making ends meet. Our parents help when they can, but they don’t live nearby, and while our daughter has just started receiving 15 hours free childcare a week, it doesn’t actually allow us to earn during that time as it’s weekday mornings, and of course the majority of performances happen in the evening. What this means for me professionally is that I feel stuck in a rut. I’m struggling to lose my baby weight which is probably affecting my castability. I don’t have the energy to practice or exercise or meal plan, or the money for lessons and coaching. My headshots are from 2015, my last recordings are from 2021. I feel like I’m limping from job to job, trying to maintain a base level standard, and my last 11 auditions in a row have been unsuccessful as competition grows more fierce for those contracts that still have funding. I know I’m ready for more, and that I have what it takes to sing principal roles at major houses. I think the SWAP’Ra retreat will be the perfect opportunity to refresh my professional image, and take time to properly focus on myself and my craft, physically, vocally, and mentally, for longer than a snatched hour here and there. Ultimately, I want to renew the upward trajectory that I was on pre-motherhood.
I think writing this is the first time I’ve admitted a lot of the above to myself. It’s brought up a lot of feelings.
DESCRIBE YOUR PRESENT LIFE AS AN ARTIST AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE:
The majority of my employment at the moment is with small companies with whom I have had a working relationship for several years, plus a bit of extra chorus/covers/small roles at ENO, and a few vocal students. In the diary are a few concerts and a small role at ENO. The two summer companies I often work with (West Green House and Baseless Fabric Theatre) are doing unsuitable rep for me next year, which is making me nervous that I won't get anything anywhere else! I audition whenever I can, and I try to be proactive with looking for and securing work, rather than just relying on my agent. Now, I just need a major company apart from ENO to take a chance on me. I have a WNO general audition in a few days, fingers crossed it's 12th time lucky...
DO YOU ENVISAGE BRINGING YOUR CHILDREN WITH YOU ON THE COURSE?
Yes, I will bring my husband and 2 year old please. Bonus points if you can squeeze in our elderly dog, but we do have lovely neighbours who could help.
REFEREE information:
REFEREE 1 NAME:
Mary Plazas
REFEREE 1 EMAIL:
REFEREE 1 RELATIONSHIP:
Singing Teacher
REFEREE 1 RESPONSE:
Position / Role Held:
OPERA SINGER/PROFESSOR SINGING- RNCM
Length of time you have known applicant:
14 years
In what capacity have you worked with the applicant and when?
REGULARLY TAUGHT FELICITY AS HER ONE TO ONE TUTOR AND COACH
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 most delightful highly intelligent, engaging conscientious thoughtful, exciting young artist. I have known and taught these 14 years and in this time, have seen her grow/flourish into an exciting lyric mezzo. The nutty, vibrant core to her tone opens into a strong, shiney upper register. She has an excellent work ethic, always well prepared professional, curious with character and drama herself an excellent musician..She is highly motivated..engaging, able to fully own her space on the stage yet equally generous and considerate of all her colleagues.
I believe xxxx has tremendous potential. She continues to build on all her hard work, going through motherhood for the first time 2 years ago..she responsibly and professionally juggles home life with at times her busy singing work. She has been preparing and performing fuller lyric roles in smaller venues which in turn encourages her voice and body to build the stamina and quality required taking her voice onto another level.
Any other comments:
I highly recommend xxxx to you for this most important course/project. It would afford there the time to stop and regroup and focus on her development at this time..working alongside others in a similar situation. Invaluable.
REFEREE 2 NAME:
Jon Lyness
REFEREE 2 EMAIL:
REFEREE 2 RELATIONSHIP:
Conductor/MD
REFEREE 2 RESPONSE:
Position / Role Held:
Conductor, Music Director
Length of time you have known applicant:
Seven years
In what capacity have you worked with the applicant and when?
The xxxx has sung a number of operatic roles with me as conductor. These include: 2018: 'Cover' Olga / Chorus (Eugene Onegin / Mid Wales Opera); 2018: Paquette (Candide / West Green House Opera); 2023: Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd / West Green House Opera); 2024: Meg Page (Falstaff / West Green House Opera); 2024: Marcellina (Marriage of Figaro / Opera Project)
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 have worked with xxxx over a number of years, from before she became a mother, and more recently now that she has her daughter xxxx.
xxxx is quite remarkable and I am full of admiration at the way in which she has developed as a singer whilst simultaneously enjoying her new role as a mother. I have met her daughter many times as she and her husband, have often brought her to rehearsals as they juggle childcare.
xxxx is extraordinarily committed and enthusiastic, and has created some uniquely memorable characters on stage. Her voice has really developed over the last few years. She recently sang the composer aria from Ariadne auf Naxos in audition and the audition panel was blown away by the steely strength of her delivery. It’s not an easy aria, with considerable dynamic and vocal range, and xxxx delivered it with total assurance. It would make for a great demo recording on the Retreat!
Her most recent roles with me – Beggar Woman, Meg Page and Marcellina – have showcased her comic brilliance and professional diligence in every aspect of rehearsals and performances.
I’ve no doubt that, from what I’ve read about the SWAP’ra Retreat, that this would be brilliant for xxxx in enabling and empowering her to fully embrace and integrate the two great roles that she currently has – that of a mother and that of a professional opera singer.
I know that she is fully determined to do everything she can to create a fulfilling career for herself as a singer and performer and I sincerely hope that she is able to receive all the help and encouragement that she richly deserves.