What was your most memorable moment at NOS?

It feels impossible to pick just one, but the first that comes to mind was the opening night of our Baroque Scenes production back in November. It was our first production of the year, and everything just went absolutely perfectly. Adele Thomas (our director) and Christian Curnyn (our conductor) had been an absolute dream to work with, and I just remember feeling an enormous rush of emotions when we all took our final bow together as a team for the first time! It was an incredibly gratifying experience as a performer and it made all of the Young Artists bond so much as a team.

What opportunities have come out of your time with us?

We get so many amazing opportunities each week that you can almost lose perspective of just how incredible it is. Every week, we get coachings with amazing industry professionals from all over the UK and the world. We get to work alongside highly acclaimed conductors and directors in our residencies, and we even get to audition for all the main opera houses in the UK! Getting auditions and jobs become so much more accessible thanks to having met all of these people and worked alongside them during our time at NOS.

What have you learnt at NOS?

One of the biggest takeaways for me has been the huge amount of performance experience we get. I have grown so much as a performer because every week, I found myself in situations where I had to perform for others. It has meant that I have learned how to deal with stress and nerves and still deliver the best possible performance.

I have also had the opportunity to work more on finding the right colors on the piano to sound as close as possible to the orchestra. I have learned a lot about singing and coaching singers, thanks to all the coachings I have had myself and the ones I have played for with the singers.

What – in your opinion - makes NOS special?

NOS is like a little family. We feel supported and part of the group, but it also creates a safe space for everyone to grow as individual artists. It is a highly intense program that offers the very unique opportunity of working with the six biggest opera houses in the country. It is all condensed into just nine months, but it has given me the push I needed to feel ready to face the real world!