In this bonus podcast episode, Hannah Sandison sits down with Anna Cooper, Jennifer France, and David Butt Philip to discuss the realities of raising children while pursuing an opera career.
Listen to ‘The Opera Training Companion’ now wherever you get your podcasts🎙️
Alum Spotlight✨
Congratulations to 2022/23 Young Artist Felix Gygli on his recent performance in the title role of Mendelssohn’s Elias at the Opernhaus Zürich 🌟
Noticing vocal fatigue, bloating, or changes in stamina before your period? Here’s Julie Cooper with tips to navigate the luteal phase and keep your voice in top shape:
www.nationaloperastudio.org.uk/knowledge-studio/supporting-your-voice-body-during-the-luteal-stage/
Young Artists Spotlight ✨
Congratulations to Ana-Carmen Balestra, who will make her debut as Michaëla/Michaëlle in Opera2Day’s brand-new production of Carmen!
A fantastic night for NOS Singers at the Ashburn English Song Prize!
🏆 Eve Pearson Maxwell (Academy) – 1st Prize
👏 Nancy Holt – 2nd Place
🎉 Georgia Mae Ellis won the Audience Prize, with repetiteur Blanca Graciá Rodríguez
With just 3 weeks to go until our performance of Benjamin Britten opera scenes at Hoxton Hall, in partnership with Opera North, we're thrilled to introduce our incredible creative team:
Garry Walker – Conductor
Louisa Muller – Director
Katie Kim Hackman – Assistant Director
Week 30 ✨
We’re now in production rehearsals for our final residency of the year with Opera North. Be sure to follow our social media for behind-the-scenes moments and updates!
Explore our summer short courses for singers & pianists—expert-led training in vocal craft, auditions & repetiteur skills.
📍All courses held at the National Opera Studio, London
🎟️ Places are limited – early booking recommended
www.nationaloperastudio.org.uk/short-courses/
A vocal coach is one of the key collaborators in a singer’s support team—alongside voice teachers, language coaches, directors, and more.
In this video, Allyson Devenish shares what vocal coaches actually do!
www.nationaloperastudio.org.uk/knowledge-st...
We’re excited to introduce our 2025/26 Young Artists!
Over the next 9 months, they’ll receive world-class training and performance opportunities to prepare for successful careers in today’s opera world.
www.nationaloperastudio.org.uk/news/introducing-our-2025-26-young-artists/
Matthew Best (1957-2025)
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Matthew Best, an alum from 1979/80.
We remember him with great admiration and share a feature from our January 2000 newsletter by Richard Van Allen, celebrating his outstanding contribution to the musical world.
Week 29 🎶
Our Benjamin Britten scenes with Opera North are fast approaching—looking forward to getting stuck into music calls this week!
Yesterday we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming the incredible Ryan Speedo Green to the Studio for a masterclass with our Young Artists. A Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone, Ryan has quickly become one of the most in-demand performers on the stages of the world’s top opera houses 🎶
08.05.2025 14:39 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
What should you do when your voice feels off?
In this video, Kate Valentine shares practical guidance for navigating vocal fluctuations—something every singer experiences.
www.nationaloperastudio.org.uk/knowledge-st...
Yesterday, our Young Artists gave a lunchtime recital at Wigmore Hall, presenting a programme of English song curated by pianist and NOS Artistic Consultant Dearbhla Collins, alongside Sir Thomas Allen. Congratulations to all of our YAs on an outstanding performance!
📸 Richard Hubert Smith
Piano vocal scores can be overwhelming—they’re not exact copies of the orchestra, but creative reductions.
Eric Melear shows how to approach them with flexibility to bring the orchestra to life at the keyboard.
www.nationaloperastudio.org.uk/knowledge-st...
Week 27 🤩
Our Young Artists return to the Studio today after the Easter holidays for their final term. This term’s performances include Wigmore Hall next week, our Opera North residency, and a London showcase. Visit our website for more details.
www.nationaloperastudio.org.uk/whats-on/
Introducing 'Operas That Made Me' — a new series where artists reflect on the moments that shaped their careers 🎥
First up: the legendary Della Jones on her Last Night of the
Proms, Geneva debut & recording Candide with Bernstein 🤩
Watch now: www.nationaloperastudio.org.uk/knowledge-st...
Alum Spotlight ✨
Congrats to 2023/24 alum Sofia Kirwan-Baez on being selected as one of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s Rising Stars for 2025–27!
It’s Agents Day at the Studio!
Each year, we invite a panel of agents and opera companies to hear our current Young Artists in a formal audition setting, followed by an informal gathering 🎶
Toi toi toi!
Last week, our YAs gave two outstanding performances of our Baroque opera scenes. Directed by Lucy Bradley and conducted by Christian Curnyn, our singers were accompanied by our repetiteurs on harpsichord and organ, with Eligio Luis Quinteiro on theorbo and Reiko Ichise on viola da gamba 🎶
09.04.2025 16:21 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Repetiteurs are the unsung heroes of opera—coaching singers, assisting conductors, and keeping productions running.
In this video, Head Coach @colla-voce.bsky.social breaks down what makes a great repetiteur and why they’re essential to every opera production.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7Fd...
Did you know your hormonal cycle can affect your voice? Fluctuations in oestrogen, progesterone, & testosterone can cause hoarseness, reduced stamina, or loss of top notes.
Nutritionist Julie Cooper shares 7 key nutrition tips to help singers stay in control of their voice!
youtu.be/WL1uHy8AeRQ
Congratulations to current Young Artist Nancy Holt, alums Georgia Mae Ellis and Blanca Graciá Rodríguez, and Academy Singer Eve Pearson Maxwell for reaching the finals of the Ashburnham English Song Awards 2025! The final will take place at Ashburnham Place on 21 May 🎶
27.03.2025 12:54 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Week 24 of the Young Artists' Programme!
Take a look at which coaches our Young Artists are working with this week.
Tonight, our Young Artists will take part in a masterclass with Freddie De Tommaso in the Clore Studio at the Royal Ballet and Opera.
The British-Italian tenor is a recipient of the First Prize, the Plácido Domingo Tenor Prize and the Verdi Prize at the 2018 Tenor Viñas Competition.
Congratulations to our YAs who have reached the semi-finals of the The Kathleen Ferrier Awards!
Emyr Lloyd Jones, accompanied by Alistair Burton, who is also competing for the Accompanists' Prize, and Rachel McLean, accompanied by Adam McDonagh, will compete at Wigmore Hall on 23 April.
Our YAs are rehearsing for their upcoming Baroque Opera scenes, directed by Lucy Bradley and conducted by Christian Curnyn.
📅 3 & 4 April | 7:30 PM
📍 National Opera Studio
🎟 £10/£25 | Free for students
Book now: www.nationaloperastudio.org.uk/event/baroque-operas/
Week 23 🎶
This week, our Young Artists begin music calls for our upcoming Baroque Operas performance, conducted by Christian Curnyn and directed by Lucy Bradley. They will also be auditioning at the Royal Ballet and Opera and taking part in a masterclass with Freddie De Tommaso.
We recently hosted a free short course on delivering opera in education & community settings! Singers explored creative ways to engage audiences—from schools to care homes, libraries to hospitals 🎶
📸 Julian Guidera
