Trainees 2010/11
Sopranos
Lucinda-Mirikata Deacon
Susana Gaspar
Aoife O'Sullivan
Mezzo-sopranos
Maire Flavin
Justina Gringyte
Hanna Hipp
Tenors
Tyler Clarke
Nathan Vale
John Pierce
Baritones
Oliver Dunn
Duncan Rock
Bass
Jimmy Holliday
Ross McInroy
Repetiteurs
Julian Black
Elizabeth Rossiter
Heather Tomala |
Sonia Ben-Santamaria repetiteur
Sonia began her musical education at the age of 6 when she was offered a place at the Conservatoire National de Toulouse Horaires Amenages. During her time there she achieved a Premier Prix in Solfege and graduated in piano and piano accompaniment. She continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music London under the tuition of Julius Drake, Iain Ledingham and Mary Hill where she graduated with a PGDip in Piano Accompaniment. Here she became sought after as a repetiteur for the opera course and was a popular accompanist amongst the singing students. Whilst at the Academy Sonia was the repetiteur for Ariodante,The Marriage of Figaro, Cosi fan Tutte , La Boheme, Die Tote Stadt, Billy Budd, The Turn of the Screw, Dialogue des Carmelites, Die Wahl des Herakles, and A Night at the Chinese Opera. She was awarded the Elsie Pratter, RAM Power Biggs, and MA Garrett scholarships as well as winning the Major Van Someren Godfrey prize for accompaniment in English Song.
Since leaving the Academy Sonia has worked regularly as a repetiteur for companies including Opera Holland Park (Lakme), Kentish Opera (Tosca), Pavilion Opera (Rigoletto/Fledermaus), Riverside Opera (Aida/Traviata/Elisir d’amore) and Chelmsford Opera (Pagliacci). She was the musical director/performance pianist-conductor for Operatiques’ concert performances of La Clemenza di Tito and Maria Stuarda. Sonia has been the musical director and conductor for Chelmsford Opera since 2009 where she has conducted many concerts and the operetta Not in Front the Waiter. So
Sonia has worked as a singing lesson accompanist for Dame Josephine Barstow, Dame Kiri Ti Kanawa and Dennis O’Neill (CIAV) and has also worked for Katarina Karneus on the preparation of a role.
Sonia is currently studying with Alex Ingram, Phillip Thomas and Peter Crockford. Her studies at the NOS were generously supported by Musicians’ Benevolent Fund award for repetiteur and Leonard Hancock Memorial Trust.
Future plans include repetiteuring for Tosca conducted by Phillip Thomas and directed by Dame Josephine Barstow for Dorset Festival. This autumn Sonia will take up the position of Trainee Repetiteur at ENO.
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