2020 - New year, new me?
To say that I won’t miss 2019 is an understatement. I think we can all recall a year that we might refer to as our annus horribilis and 2019 has been it for me. I can’t remember a more trying year and at times it has been filled with nonstop bad news. Whilst I’ve dealt with my own trials and grief, I have been helpless to help the ones I love and care for deal with their own. There have been times where I’ve wanted to pack up and set up home in Cambodia. To be clear, I will be staying up tomorrow night to watch 2019 die.
Surprisingly, after what has been a disastrous year, there has been a sprinkling of glitter on this poo year. After three years of auditioning and a change of fach in between, I am thrilled to announce that in September I will be studying vocal performance at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. After years of wondering whether things might slide into place, I can’t quite process it all!
I certainly have a few things to organise (for a start, I need to figure out how I’m going to pay for it), but I wanted to dedicate this post to the people who have really helped me over the last few years, whether that has been their continued support or their expertise and guidance.
In no particular order and apologises if you feel like you’ve been forgotten (no ill-will meant here).
Susan Waters - your guidance and belief in me has been unwavering, even when I’ve doubted myself
David Woods - for always believing in me and reminding me to keep going, even when things haven’t gone to plan
Mum and Dad - for listening to my warbles from the very beginning and encouraging me to follow my dreams
Peter Jones - for having the patience to teach me how to speak German!
Christopher Gould - the best coach a girl could ask for!
Ezra Williams - for our beautiful recital before auditions at Croydon Minster
Nick Ridout - for inspiring me in the first place
Tom and Jessica Dalton-Cheetham - For being the most supportive and encouraging friends I could need
Colleen Whadcoat - for always having faith in me and always being an ear.
Norman Cooley and the Acting for Opera group - Invaluable audition preparation & always listening to my rambles pre & post audition
Hannah Morley - Going on this awful audition journey with me and always being a supportive ear regardless of the results
Handmade Opera - For honest and constructive advice and pushing me to improve on my skills
Matthew (Jack) Knight - For your sassy ways keeping me grounded
Abingdon Summer School for Solo Singers - for nurturing me, when I had been rebuilding my voice.
Kerry Watson - My first ever singing teacher
Bedfordshire Youth Opera - the best group a young singer could learn from
Mark Chambers - For rejuvenating my love of singing
Guy Murgatroyd - Going through all of my music, even when you probably don’t want to…
Esther Woods - For your unwavering belief and encouragement each audition season
Luton Music Service - For nurturing a very young me and employing an older me
Physio Ed - For cracking my jaw back into the right place…
Sara Harris - for being the most patient and encouraging speech therapist. Rrrrrreeally great.
Peter Brooks, Emma Wheeler and Clare Watson - Great friends and great times
University of Birmingham Gilbert and Sullivan Society - Friends and music forever
St Albans Chamber Opera - The kindest group of people I’ve had the pleasure of working with
Watch this space in the new year…
B x