Scenes from the Academy

Our Academy Singers take to the stage at the Studio for an exciting programme of opera scenes, directed by Emma Doherty. The Academy provides free, world-class training for exceptional UK-based singers aged 19–25 who have faced educational or professional barriers, helping them take the next step in their artistic journey. This performance features scenes from some of Mozart’s most beloved operas, alongside scenes by Rossini and Handel.

During the week, they will be working with director Emma Doherty, along side Allyson Devenish, and Maureen Braitwaite, preparing scenes from Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini), Die Zauberflöte, Così fan tutte, Don Giovanni, and La clemenza di Tito (Mozart), and Alcina (Handel). They will also receive Italian language support from Alessandra Fasolo, along with lunchtime chats on CVs with Katy Crompton and performance psychology with Hannah Sandison.

Meet the Academy Singers here.

Emma Doherty

Emma is a dynamic stage director and musician based in London whose practice has co-creation at its core. Her work spans professional, educational, and community settings — from national opera houses to prisons, homelessness hostels, and schools. Passionate about the transformative power of creativity, she champions its role in empowerment, wellbeing, and fostering community cohesion.

She holds a first-class degree in music from the University of Manchester, where she regularly performed as a soprano. Emma was the co-founder and Artistic Director of The Opera Shack, a Manchester based collective dedicated to bringing interdisciplinary opera with a focus on social issues into unexpected and unconventional spaces.

Emma’s work has been shown at Royal Opera House, Royal Festival Hall, Tron Theatre, The Linbury and Royal Northern College of Music.

She is a project lead for the Irene Taylor Trust, creating and performing new music with people affected by the Criminal Justice System.

Emma specialises in youth engagement, frequently co-creating new work with young people. She is a Create and Sing Artist for the Royal Opera House and regularly directs the Royal Opera House and Opera North Youth Company.

Emma has worked as Assistant and Associate with various directors including Netia Jones, Katie Mitchell and Natalie Abrahami and for organisations including Scottish Opera, The Barbican, Garsington Opera and Welsh National Opera.