Grange Park Opera

How Scholarships have helped younger artists

I have found the scholarship from Grange Park Opera invaluable - it has given me the financial assistance to finally work on learning to sing confidently in Russian - working with several coaches on the diction and rules of singing in Russian, something which I did not have the opportunity to do at college whilst I was there. The scholarship has also allowed me to learn a key role for my repertoire, Lensky, which I am looking forward to performing in the future.
Alex Vearey-Roberts - tenor

The Scholarship for young artist from Grange Park is incredibly helpful! It came at the time of my career, when I most needed it. It has allowed me to take coaching and lessons as much as I needed in order to work on the roles and perfect repertoire, parallel to performing it. The nature of an opera singer is constantly to learn and improve, perfecting the languages, the style and technique. Without the help of Grange Park scholarship I would have very limited resources to afford it all myself. I am very grateful!
Ilona Domnich - soprano

I have found the money very useful indeed. Being in the form of a certain sum of money made available to be spent specifically on preparing the role, and importantly including associated travel costs which these days are getting prohibitively high, it has allowed me unhesitatingly to arrange lessons and coachings over the last year which I would probably have done without under other circumstances. This has given me greater confidence in approaching a role like Onegin, which famously has a challenging final scene, as I have the knowledge that my technique is vastly more secure than a year ago. I have also used the opportunity to see other teachers as well as my regular one - Robert Dean - which again I might not normally have done. I think this is a vital step for any singer, as seeing more than one teacher encourages him to think broad-mindedly about technique, and sometimes helps unlock aspects of a singer's voice that his primary teacher is not accessing. This has not so much been my experience this year, rather that the teachers I have seen have reinforced, but from varied directions, the core technique that Robert has always taught me. An additional aspect is the coaching. Lada Valesova is a fantastic coach not only from the point of view of language but musically as well, and I have spent many productive hours with her. I am today exchanging emails with Gerald Finley to set something up in mid-May. This would obviously be the cherry on the cake if I can have an hour or two to benefit from his experience of actually singing the role on stage.
James McOran-Campbell - baritone

The Grange Park Rising Stars Scholarship has been a wonderful start to my career with Grange Park Opera. This is my debut performance with the company but also the first time I have sung the role of Lensky so it was crucial for me to learn it well. The scholarship has allowed me to learn the entire role in Russian with an industry-leading language coach who, not only knows the language but also the stylistics of Tchaikovsky's music. The importance of learning a role in such a fashion cannot be over-emphasised as for me it is only when one really understands the language, the meaning of the words and the spirit of the music that the composer intended, can one realistically portray a character on the operatic stage. Moreover, I have managed to try out and find the right singing teacher by using the money afforded to me under the auspices of the scholarship and am progressing well towards the right kind of roles for my specific voice type. The scholarship has therefore given me the opportunity to not only improve on my singing technique at a critical stage in my development but also to have coached in a core role in an unforgettable way. I will hopefully give my very best performance in the summer.
Anthony Flaum - tenor

My scholarship from Grange Park has been invaluable. It has allowed me to purchase new music and audition repertoire as well as being able to continue regular singing lessons which contribute to my overall development. I have also been able to use my scholarship to pursue specialist Russian language coaching, which has helped me prepare for my time at the Grange as well as opening up a whole new area of music for me to explore - something that would not have been possible without the support from Grange Park Opera.
Matthew Stiff - bass-baritone

The scholarship I received from Grange Park Opera has proved invaluable for me. One of the many things it has allowed me to do is to have performance technique sessions. An on-going process, the sessions so far have helped me rid myself of the negative thoughts that can at times overcome any singer, helping make every performance a positive experience, in which I become the best that I can be. I am extremely grateful to Grange Park Opera for this financial gift, but also for believing in me as a young singer.
Caryl Hughes - mezzo

Grange Park Opera scholarship was a great help for my singing and I am infinitely grateful. 
When I first came to London in 2008 and had the opportunity to sing for Wasfi Kani that day changed my life. After my audition, she told me good and bad things about my singing. It's actually very hard to find in these days a person to give you an honest feedback after an audition. She gave me the opportunity to sing in the Young Artist production and offered me a scholarship to improve my singing technique and preparing the role. The scholarship was very helpful and gave me the great opportunity to study for a year with one of the most famous singers in the history of opera Mirella Freni, who is still my teacher today. We worked almost every day in different things, position and projection of the voice, support, intonation, and helped me to improve the style of bel canto as well as how to approach the interpretation of each role. Thanks to the scholarship of Grange Park Opera today I am living my dream.
Jesus Leon - tenor

I have discovered the Grange Park scholarship to be a great opportunity to improve a very important aspect of my performing. As I'm covering the role of Eugene Onegin - one of my dream roles - it is essential to gain an understanding of the Russian language, musical style and idiosyncrasies. The scholarship has given me the means to work with Russian coaches who can give me the tools to create a feeling what it is like to speak, sing, feel and move like a Russian on stage, should I have the chance to perform as Onegin.
Nicolas Dwyer - baritone

I would like to say that I found the scholarship extremely beneficial in that I could use it towards extra lessons and coaching which enabled me to expand my repertoire and further my vocal development. This in turn has given me the confidence and security to tackle other demands of the profession and give me the support needed to deal with the challenges it presents. It has ultimately given me the preparation for future auditions.
Alex Duliba - baritone

Being a singer, and aiming to be a successful one, you have to be able to attract attention of agents and opera professionals. One of the best opportunities is participation in international competitions and taking a part in summer courses. But unfortunately not every young singer is able to afford a trip to summer course or competition. The fee and travel expenses are making a big obstacle on the way to desirable success. But everything can change if you are supported by scholarship. I was among the lucky ones who received the Grange Park Scholarship. It allowed me to confirm my participation in the Salzburg Voice Festival and Grand Voci International Competition, which happens to be in Salzburg as well. Salzburg Voice Festival is a summer course, where I will get a possibility to take a part in 3 concerts, to be broadcast on the radio, take German Language coaching and participate in opera in concert performance. This year it will be Cavalleria Rusticana. After an audition in Vienna I was given the part of Lola. Only one soprano and one mezzo, from all 15 participants were chosen to participate in this opera concert! Participation in Grand Voci Competition 2011 gives me an opportunity to compete for the contract with Berg Opera Festival and a cash prize. Well, now the future looks bright, and with a lot of opportunities. Now it depends on me, on my work and dedication to my profession. Would it be the same without Grange Park scholarship? No it would not.
Alexia Mankovskaya - soprano

On being awarded the scholarship it enabled me to have many lessons with my teacher Janice Chapman and also several coaching sessions with Phillip Thomas to work on the role of Tosca. Having the opportunity to work in such great detail on a role of this size helped me to recognise the demands it brings both technically and emotionally and I believe I grew so much as a singer in that time and it has allowed me to continue to grow with the knowledge I now have and the confidence I hold and also the foresight that as singers we are always learning. My whole experience with Grange Park Opera/Nevill Holt last summer was hugely positive and what I learnt is invaluable to me as and much of that creativity was due to the scholarship I was awarded which I am very grateful for. 
Mairead Buicke - soprano

I am incredibly grateful for the generous scholarship from Grange Park Opera in order to learn the role of Idamante - a role which is perfect for me. It has enabled me to study the role in detail with various coaches, which is invaluable for aspiring young singers. I now have the role prepared for (hopefully) future opportunities!
Clare Presland - mezzo

Over recent months I have really improved my ability to make my voice focused and 'placed'. When this is correct, singing becomes much easier. Instead of becoming tense and struggling through an aria, I am starting to learn to relax and think more about aspects such as acting, expression and clarity of language. Guidance from a teacher whose opinion I trust and respect has been enormously helpful in enabling me to achieve this, and I am very grateful that the Grange Park Scholarship has allowed me to continue with regular lessons.
Matthew Nicholls - tenor

The scholarship money allowed me to learn the role of Tosca in great detail (I was covering the role for Grange Park Opera). I used the money to have singing lessons with a more experienced singer in the opera world who had sung the role many times. This made a great difference to how I approached the role. After having the singing lessons, I felt technically very secure and if I had had to go on to perform the role, I would have been confident and prepared to do so thanks to the professional expertise I received from using the scholarship money. 
Cressida van Gordon - soprano

The scholarship has really enabled me to study two roles I would otherwise have struggled to prepare in full, for financial reasons more than anything. I have been able to work with one of the top Russian coaches and have learnt so much about singing in Russian, its sound, expression - something we did not do at conservatoire.
Thanks to a Grange Park Opera Scholarship I now have two more roles I can perform in the future, providing me with 'tools' for future employment - new repertory to sell myself at auditions with. I am hopeful that this scholarship has enabled me to open a few more doors.
Natalie Sinnott - mezzo

I was grateful to receive a scholarship from Grange Park Opera. This enabled me to embark on my first lessons in the Czech language. I was covering a role in Dvorak's opera Rusalka for the company, and wanted to ensure my pronunciation was as idiomatic as possible, and to gain a deeper understanding of the text. My scholarship enabled me to undertake a series of lessons with a fantastic Czech coach. I was also able to use remaining funds to have a couple of singing lessons with my teacher - it's always very useful to be able to afford a "tune up" during a long rehearsal period. Thank you very much for your help and for the opportunities afforded me by this scholarship from Grange Park Opera.
Laurence Meikle - baritone

I was very grateful to receive the scholarship from Grange Park Opera last year. It allowed me to work with excellent coaches and voice teachers at the Royal Opera House to prepare for the different cover roles I had at Grange Park last year. As I was very lucky to actually get to sing cover roles on some stage rehearsals I was lucky to be so well prepared. The work with Grange Park last year was one of my greatest experiences as a singer, getting to work with the inspired and dedicated singers that the chorus consists of as well as the world class soloists, directors and conductors. I've probably never learned so much about how one works in a professional opera company. These are experiences I take with me into my current opera studies in Oslo and for the time after.
Patrick Egersborg - bass-baritone

The scholarships I received from Grange Park allowed me great professional experience assisting Anthony McDonald and David Fielding both of whom I respect enormously as designers and directors in opera. This also led to invaluable experience doing design work at the Bregenz Festival which was invaluable both in terms of its massive scale and its open air stage. The Grange Park scholarships are very important in supporting new talent both financially and professionally and I am very grateful for them.
Vali Mahlouji - designer

I have been extremely fortunate to have benefitted from a Grange Park Scholarship. Having completed my full-time education it is extremely important that I continue with singing lessons and coaching, but at the start of an operatic career this necessary tuition is very costly and not always feasible. The Grange Park Scholarship has enabled me to continue regular lessons, and thus continue my technical and artistic development alongside my professional operatic work. In particular, the scholarship has allowed me to tackle two difficult Slavic languages, Czech and Russian, which I hadn't encountered to a great extent in my full-time studies, but now arm me with an invaluable tool for my operatic career.
Daniel Joy - tenor

Quite simply, the scholarship from GPO has enabled me to access coaching that otherwise would simply have been beyond my personal reach. Specifically it has given me access to top-class German coaching as I prepare for my debut as 'Hagen' for Longborough Festival Opera. The coaching the scholarship has paid for will remain with me forever as I prepare other roles in German for the future. A priceless gift, for which I whole-heartedly thank Wasfi and all at Grange Park Opera.
Stuart Pendred - baritone

The Grange Park Scholarship gave me the opportunity to study a demanding role, that of Scarpia, under the watchful eye of the baritone Robert Poulton, who sang the role for Grange Park Opera in 2010. The chance to work with a top professional proved to be invaluable and has encouraged me to attempt more challenging repertoire in the future. My confidence has grown considerably with the support and encouragement that I have received from Robert and I am sure that his words of wisdom will stay with me for many years to come. 
Philip Spendley - baritone

I am enormously grateful to the Grange Park Opera Scholarship scheme as it has allowed me to work with baritone Henry Waddington whose teaching has been hugely valuable and inspirational. I found that his technical advice, along with his wealth of professional experience on the operatic stage, have contributed enormously to the recent development of my voice. My confidence as a performer has certainly become a lot stronger and I am now able to approach more demanding repertoire which is exciting.
Matthew Duncan - baritone

The scholarship from Grange Park was incredibly useful to me. This kind of initiative is very important especially for young singers who are starting a career. This way it was possible to build a role in a safe environment, a role that I will perform as a principal in the future. When I come back to Cavaradossi, I will hardly need any time to put it together. That is all because of the scholarship from Grange Park Opera that made it possible to have coaching with really good people. Not to mention that covering Cavaradossi for such a high standard opera company as Grange Park Opera is a dream of every single young tenor.
Leonel Pinheiro - tenor