Young Artist Programme

Our Mission: to support and develop diverse and talented young artists

About the Programme 

Led by Director of the Young Artist Programme, Rebecca Meltzer, and Head of Music, Ashley Beauchamp, the programme offers artists at the beginning of their careers the opportunity to develop their skills and hone their craft in a safe and exciting environment. The programme offers mentorship and training in contemporary opera practice and collaborative theatre-making. Young Artists will be mentored by festival staff and external practitioners throughout the programme, and singers will receive a number of coachings and performance opportunities.

2024 Young Artists

Join us for the 2024 Young Artist Gala which showcases the work of our YA Singers and Directors. You can also see them performing in the chorus for The Barber of Seville.

Kristina Ammattil
​Soprano

Oliver Barker
Baritone

Kathy Macaulay
Soprano

Katie Kim Hackman
Director

Ash Howard
Mezzo

Oscar Simms
Director

Simon Mascarenhas-Carter
Tenor

WOF Young Artist Alumni 

2023 Young Artists

Singers
​Tesni Jones - Soprano
​Yunna Jiang - Soprano
Daisy Mitchell - ​Mezzo-Soprano
​James McIntyre - Tenor
​Fraser Robinson - Baritone

Directors
​Emily Beech - ​Director (Opera)
Maddy Trepanier - ​Director (Opera)
Maryam Noorhimli - Director (Community & Education)

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2022 Young Artists

Singers
Charlotte Jane Kennedy - Soprano
Caroline Blair - Soprano
Rachel Barnard - Mezzo-Soprano
David Woods - Tenor
Charles Murray - Tenor

Directors
Aïda Lahlou - Director

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2021 Young Artists

Singers
​Madeleine Todd - Soprano
Bethan Terry - Soprano
Hugh Beckwith - Tenor
Christopher Willoughby - Tenor
Rebecca Anderson - Mezzo-Soprano
Maria Willis - Mezzo-Soprano
Stephen Whitford - Baritone
Christopher Head - Baritone

​Directors
James Gillett - Musical Director
Callie Nestleroth - Director

​Creatives
Sofía Escobar - Design Assistant

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2019 Young Artists

Singers
Caitlin Bell - Soprano
Caitlin Goreing - Mezzo-Soprano
Eleanor Westbrook - Mezzo-Soprano
Harry Jacques - Tenor
Jamie Woollard - Bass

Directors
Emma Doherty - Director
Lily Dyble - Director
​Rory Johnston - Musical Director

Creatives
Phoebe Schenk - Creative Producer
Rhiannon Merrifield - Creative Producer
Georgia Smithers - Designer
Manuela Fleming - Designer
Inayah Thomas - Stage Manager
Jack Firman - Stage Manager

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2018 Young Artists

Singers
Chloe Jackson - Soprano
Charlotte Collier - Mezzo-Soprano
Phil Durrant - Tenor
Louis Wilson - Bass

Directors
Crispin Lord - Director
Trojan Nakade - Music Director

Creatives
Beatrix Swanson Scott - Festival Assistant
Bronte McFadyean - Designer
Victoria Rodriguez - Designer

Previous Events

​2022 Programme Events 
​
YOUNG ARTIST GALA
YOUNG ARTIST MASTERCLASS WITH NICKY SPENCE

​2021 Programme Events

YOUNG ARTIST OPERA SCENES PERFORMANCES
YOUNG ARTIST MASTERCLASS WITH MARK WILDE

2020 Programme Events

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the programme was unable to run. Many of the Young Artists selected for 2020 returned for the 2021 programme.

2019 Programme Events

ABRAHAM & ISAAC (BRITTEN) PERFORMANCES
'DREAM' (DEVISED WORK) PERFORMANCES
YOUNG ARTIST MASTERCLASS

2018 Programme Events

A HAND OF BRIDGE (BARBER) PERFORMANCES
YOUNG ARTIST MASTERCLASS