Valda Wilson lyric coloratura soprano

Valda Wilson was born in Sydney, Australia. She grew up in the bushland suburb of Castlecrag and on the family grazing property in the Upper Hunter mountains. She was awarded a Bachelor of Science (Hons1) by the University of Sydney in 2004 before completing a three year Diploma of Opera at Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2007. In September 2008 she moved to London to study at the National Opera Studio on Opera Foundation Australia’s Rockend Scholarship. She now lives in London. Her voice teachers and coaches include Stephen Yalouris, Sharolyn Kimmorley, Yvonne Kenny, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Lillian Watson.

On the concert platform Valda has performed Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen and many other Bach Cantatas, Mozart Exsultate, jubilate! and Three Poems of Byron by modern Australian composer Graeme Koehne. She was soprano soloist in the world premiere of Australian Anne Boyd’s youth cantata Dreams for the Earth. Oratorio repertoire includes Bach St Matthew Passion and St John Passion, Handel Samson and Messiah, Mozart Mass in C minor, and Australian Paul Pavoir’s Mass of the Southern Cross. Valda has presented numerous radio recitals for Sydney radio 2MBS and was a member of Pacific Opera’s 2008 Young Artist Program.

In July 2009, Valda performed Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro for the Lyric Opera Studio Weimar. At the London National Opera Studio Showcase in June, she played Mlle Silberklang Der Schauspieldirektor. From March through September 2008 she played Rosina in Opera Australia Schools Touring Company production of Il barbiere di Siviglia. Roles with Sydney Conservatorium Opera were Rosina La vera costanza, Geraldine A Hand of Bridge, Amore Paride ed Elena, and Susan A Dinner Engagement.  Other roles include Ilia Idomeneo, Manon Manon, Giulietta I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Cleopatra Giulio Cesare, Aline The Sorceror, Mabel and Edith Pirates of Penzance, Yum-Yum and Pitti-Sing The Mikado. In March 2010 Valda will play Adina in Riverside Opera’s London production of L’elisir d’amore.

Recent engagements include concerts at Chatsworth House, Fulham Palace, Wales Millennium Centre with the Welsh National Opera orchestra, the Barrandov Opera, the Two Moors Festival, Young People In The Arts, the Britain-Australia Society at the House of Lords, and a London Rush Hour Concert with tenor Brad Cooper.

Valda was one of six finalists in the Concours de Genève 2009 International Singing Competition in Switzerland, and a semifinalist in Placido Domingo’s  Operalia 2009 International Competition. In 2007 she was a finalist in the Australian National Operatic Aria and in the City of Sydney Opera Awards, and received the Elizabeth Todd Award for Soprano Voice in the Sydney Eisteddfod. Further competition success followed in 2008 including placing in the City of Sydney Opera Awards and winning Opera Foundation Australia’s prestigious Rockend Scholarship and the Robert and Betty Salzer 2009 Award. Valda also appreciates generous financial support from the Australian Music Foundation, the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, the Tait Memorial Trust, the Opus 50 Charitable Trust, the Helpmann Family Trust, and the Opera and Arts Support Group.