Trainees 2009/10

Sopranos
Elizabeth Llewellyn
Sadhbh Dennedy
Anna Devin
Meeta Raval

Mezzo-sopranos
Sara Gonzalez-Saavedra
Raquel Luis

Tenors
John Pierce
Nicky Spence

Baritones
Gerard Collett
Joa Rasmus Helgesson

Bass
John Molloy

Repetiteurs
Marie-Elise Boyer
Cameron Burns
Jean-Paul Pruna

Madeleine Pierard soprano

Named as ‘What’s Hot’ by Opera Now Magazine in 2008, Madeleine began her musical life as a pianist and chorister in New Zealand.  After completing studies at Victoria University of Wellington (reading Music and Biomedical Science), she completed a PGDip with Distinction (RCM) and in 2009, completed an MMus at the Benjamin Britten Opera School, where she was the Edward and Helen Hague and Irene Hanson Scholar.  Since her arrival in the UK, Madeleine has studied with Lillian Watson and received coaching from David Syrus, Mark Packwood, Roger Vignoles, Paul Farrington and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.  Madeleine recently won the Lies Askonas Prize, the Great Elm Award at the Wigmore Hall, Les Azuriales Ozone Opera Competition in France and the Singer’s Competition at the Royal Overseas League Competition.   Madeleine is also a New Generation Award winner from the Arts Foundation of New Zea;and and winner of the 2005 Lexus Song Quest, a competition that launched the careers of Dame Kiri te Kanawa and Jonathan Lemalu.. 
 
Recent roles have received glowing reviews around London: (as Meleagro – Atalanta in the London Handel Festival) ‘her voice rippling though the intricate settings with suppleness and purity of tone’ (The Independent). Other RCM roles include Cherubino, Prince Charmant (Cendrillon), Thaïs, Composer (Ariadne auf Naxos) and Erissena (Poro).    Professional roles include Justice (The First Commandment) with the Classical Opera Company, Flower Maiden 1,1 (Parsifal), Marzelline (Fidelio) with NBR New Zealand Opera and Musetta (La Boheme) with Longborough Festival Opera.  She has performed extensively on the concert platform throughout NZ and the UK, including Verdi’s Requiem, Haydn’s Creation, recitals with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Jonathan Lemalu and on tour with the NZSO in China.  This summer, Madeleine features in the RCM Rising Stars Concert at the Cadogan Hall and in a recital series with pianist, Simon Lepper in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Madeleine is also a 2009/10 Samling Scholar.

Along with opera, Madeleine has a particular interest in performing contemporary works, premiering Symphony No. 2 by New Zealand composer, Ross Harris with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Madeleine has jecently completed two recordings with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, featuring works by Lyell Cresswell and Beethoven works for soprano and orchestra for the Naxos Label.

For more information, please visit www.madeleinepierard.com.