Meet the Finalists

The stage is set for the Grand Final of the prestigious 2019 BOIBA Awards at Bath Spa University’s Michael Tippett Centre on Thursday 7 November.

Let’s find out more about the six finalists…

Natalie Davies mezzo soprano

Mozart Smanie Implacabilifrom Cosi fan Tutte
Robert Allen & Al Stillman Where are you now? from The Enchanted Island
Brahms Von Ewiger Liebe

Mezzo-soprano Natalie Davies was the CM Vinson scholar at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She received the 2018 Basil A Turner Prize for her performance as Hermia in Sams’ ‘The Enchanted Island’ for British Youth Opera and returned to the company to play Tisbe in Rossini’s ‘La Cenerentola’ this summer. Recent highlights include performances at Snape Maltings, Wigmore Hall and for BBC Radio 3. 

Jack Lee baritone

Mozart Hai gia vinta la causa…Vedro mentr’io sospiro from Le Nozze di Figaro
Richard Strauss Allerseelen
Gounod Avant De Quitter Ces Lieux

Baritone Jack Lee is in his final year of an undergraduate degree at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Giles Underwood and Chad Vindin. Recently, Jack has performed the role of Papageno at the Uppermill Summer Music Festival, Le Dancaïre in Carmen and the role of the cricket in The Cunning Little Vixen at the Royal Academy of Music. 

Erin Rossington mezzo soprano

Handel Vani sono’i lamenti…
Svegliatevi nel core from Guilio Cesare
Wagner Traume
Bizet Seguidilla from Carmen

Welsh mezzo-soprano Erin Rossington is studying for a Master of Music course at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London under the tutelage of Susan Waters thankfully supported by The Behrens Foundation and The Countess of Munster trust. She is Llangollen International Eisteddfod’s International Voice of the Future 2019.

Myrna Tennant soprano

Massenet Frère! Voyez!… Du gai soleil from Werther
Rebecca Clarke Down by the Salley Gardens
Handel E pur così in un giorno… Piangerò, la sorte mia from Giulio Cesare

Soprano Myrna Tennant is based in Glasgow, Scotland, studying with Wilma MacDougal. Myrna completed her undergraduate studies at the RCS, graduating with a Bachelor with Honours of the First Class. Previous performance highlights include the title role in Massenet’s Cinderella, Galatea (Acis and Galatea), Venus (Venus and Adonis), and being the soprano soloist for works including Mozart’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah. 

Bethan Terry soprano

Britten The Tower Scene fromThe Turn of the Screw
Massenet Adieu, notre petite table from Manon
Messiaen Le collier

British soprano, Bethan Terry is studying under Sophie Grimmer at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in her third year of the undergraduate degree. Her achievements include being a semi-finalist in the Soloist’s Competition, finalist of the English Song Competition, and highly commended by Patricia Bardon in the Elisabeth Schumann Lieder Duo Competition at Trinity Laban. Bethan is seen performing concerts across London regularly. 

Kieron-Connor Valentine counter-tenor

Britten I Know a Bank
Gluck Che faro senza from Euridice
Rhys Jones Cilfan y Coed

Welsh counter-tenor Kieron-Connor Valentine has just completed his first year of the M.Mus course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, having graduated from the Bachelor of Music Vocal Studies course at the Royal Northern College of Music and Drama, Manchester. In 2018 Kieron joined the Britten-Pears Programme at Aldeburgh Festival in the role of Didymus in Theodora

GRAND FINAL TICKETS

Michael Tippett Centre, Bath Spa University
Thursday 7 November, 7pm

Ticket hotline: 01935 475219
Tickets £10 (students free but ticket still needed)
Tickets are strictly limited – early booking advised

The prestigious Bath Opera Isobel Buchanan Award is made annually to a promising young opera singer aged between 18 and 26. The award was launched in 2018 by international soprano and distinguished teacher Isobel Buchanan.

First prize £1,000
Runner-up prize £250
The winner will also be engaged to perform in a concert at Bath Spa University in 2020.

TICKET HOTLINE: 01935 475219