Meet our Serena Fenwick programme singers
This month marks the start of the 2024 Serena Fenwick programme for singers, our intensive career booster that gives very specific, targeted training to just a handful of participants.
We’re very excited to announce that this year’s particpants are: Emily Beech, Liam Forrest, Victoria Harley, Rebecca Kaznowski, Victoria Mulley, Roberta Philip, Julia Solomon and Myrna Tennant. Find out more about them below.
They’ll be with us for the next 6 months on a part time and flexible basis, working with mentors and coaches to tackle the areas they’ve identified as needing work.
If you’re interested in supporting one of our Serena Fenwick programme participants please email info@byo.org.uk.
Victoria Harley
“Before coming to opera, the majority of my performance experience was in metal music - very different to a lot of other opera singers! I am very passionate about contemporary opera and was extremely lucky to originate a role in a world premiere in 2023. After exploring different fachs, I am currently focusing on dramatic coloratura repertoire and love anything by Strauss and Verdi, but my dream role would be to sing The Governess in a haunted house one day!”
liam forrest
“I began singing classical music at the age of 15 after my first public performance at the Abbey of Dunfermline which fortunately was witnessed by Frances McCafferty, who offered to be my singing teacher. I began performing for organisations like the Dunfermline Carnegie Trust, the United Dunfermline Burns Club, and the Rotary Club of Dunfermline. I’m a former choral scholar at St Machar’s Cathedral. As a performer I enjoy connecting with the audience and telling a story through the music.”
julia solomon
“My route to opera started young and with some luck when I was selected to sing in Covent Garden’s Children Chorus. It was the most fulfilling, fun and transformative experience and knew that opera would be with me for the rest of my life. At school my favourite subjects were poetry, literature, philosophy, drama, music, history and languages. Struggling to choose just one to study at university, I realised there was no need to choose - opera had it all!”
Victoria Mulley
“I am very lucky to have singing in my life in a number of different ways! As well as my solo work, I sing in the professional choir of St John’s Wood Parish Church and I teach singing, both privately and in two schools. I am a keen composer and improviser, and also have a huge interest in choral conducting; I’m one of the two founders and directors of The Lyra Singers, a chamber choir based in Knightsbridge.”
roberta philip
“I am a soprano and sing both opera and jazz. I grew up as a classically trained grade 8 pianist and violinist. My love for classical singing however came later, after I had the opportunity to sing with the BBC Proms Youth Choir and realised that I had to enter the world of opera. Alongside my singing, I am also the Digital Content Manager for an arts foundation that supports emerging talent in theatre, music and visual art.”
rebecca kaznowski
“Having studied with such eminent teachers as Prof. Susan McCulloch and Marcus van den Akker, I was inspired to pursue my passion for all aspects of vocal technique and pedagogy, and have run my thriving teaching practice in Norfolk since 2013. As recitalist, I have explored unusual repertoire for voice and harp and worked nationally as a soloist with various ensembles and choral societies developing my love of English Orchestral song with large-scale works by Britten and Frank Bridge.”
emily beech
“I am an Irish/British soprano and opera maker, interested in story-driven performance and advocating for new music; In my practice I’m always trying to emphasize playfulness and exploration. Alongside my work as a singer I am also a fledgling opera director and facilitator, and I hope to carve out a career for myself which is multi-disciplined and supports both passions.”
myrna tennant
“I adore teaching and community outreach work. I teach privately and have worked on projects with the Learning and Participation Department of the Royal Opera House. During my studies I chose modules focussing on community music, including music in psychology, and performing in dementia wards and in ASN schools. These experiences have shown me what a huge role music plays in society on a larger scale, and how everyone deserves access to it at a high level.”
Photos: Marc Gascoigne