About me
Early career
I sang before I walked (apparently!) and music is my life. As a teenager I performed regularly as a soloist in and around Cheltenham. It was expected that I would study singing and make that my life, but at the age of 18 I wanted to try other things. Like many people during this time, I ended up in the IT industry, testing, teaching and writing technical manuals.
I embarked upon a BA in Music at Bath Spa University at the grand age of 41. It wasn’t easy! I was travelling to Bath about three times a week whilst juggling three children as a single parent. I studied teaching, conducting, opera, performance, musicology and composition. From there I went to University of Bristol to study for an MA in Composition. Sadly the demands of family life as well as a growing teaching career meant that something had to go. My children’s demands had to take priority.
My Professional Life
I am a mezzo soprano, and studied singing with the world-renowned operatic soprano, Rosa Mannion for over 7 years. Her support, encouragement and dedication enabled me to embark on a professional operatic career. I sang with the Longborough Festival Chorus in several productions including Tosca and Madame Butterfly. As a result of this, I was invited to join the innovative and progressive Opera Project. With them I performed in La Boheme and Eugene Onegin at Longborough and Britten’s Beggars Opera at West Green House in Hampshire. I also took various leading and support roles with other companies including Nella in Gianni Schicchi for Severnside Opera, the title roles in The Medium for BSU and La Pericole for Bristol Opera, the Witch in Into the Woods, Third Lady in The Magic Flute and Juno in Semele for BSU.
As well as opera I have given recitals including works by Schubert, Manuel de Falla, Britten and Barber and performed with many other musical groups. I have also performed as a soloist in various oratorios.
Teaching
In 2008 I took up the post of singing teacher at Balcarras School in Cheltenham, which I held for the next 17 years. During that time I taught hundreds of private pupils. I also formed and directed the award-winning Balcarras Chamber Choir.