Biographies

James Arthur - Raimondi

James Arthur was born in Essex and was awarded a music scholarship to Ampleforth College in 1993 where he studied singing under Richard Hill. He read music at Durham University where he was a cathedral choral scholar and received the Sir Thomas Beecham scholarship for performance. He subsequently studied with Peter Alexander Wilson at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, completing the opera course in 2006. He has covered 'Dulcamara' in L'Elisir d'Amore for Opera South, sung chorus in Tosca (Bregenz Festival), Aida and Parsifal (English National Opera) and Death in Venice (Aldeburgh Festival), in which he also performed the roles of 'Polish Father' and 'Priest'. He has also sung 'Pritschitsch' in Scottish Opera on Tour's production of The Merry Widow as well as 'Zoroastro' in Orlando at the Ryedale Festival. He has performed in Europe, the Far East and Australia in Songs from the Labyrinth with Sting and has recorded with The Cardinall's Musick and Stile Antico, with whom he has recently returned from touring in the USA and Mexico. He also sings with La Nuova Musica, The Clerk's Group and the Taverner Consort. Unti recently he was an Assistant Vicar Choral at St Paul's Cathedral. He currently studies with Neal Davies.

Laura Baxter - Piano

Laura Baxter graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London in 2005. Having completed a BA(Hons) at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Laura entered the RAM on a scholarship to specialise in piano accompaniment. She studied with Iain Ledingham and also worked as a repetiteur for the Royal Academy Opera's production of Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' under Anthony Legge. Now based in Glasgow, Laura plays for the RSNO choruses and National Youth Choir of Scotland. She regularly works with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Royal Scottish National Orchestra and is also heavily involved in the Education Department of Scottish Opera, giving workshops and masterclasses across Scotland. Laura is an active chamber musician and recitalist, performing with, amongst others the Cartha Trio and the Auricle Ensemble, and was most recently featured with violinist Fergus Hetherington on the Irish Contemporary Music Centre's album, 'Volume 9'.

Amira Bedrush-McDonald - Violin

Born and raised in Glasgow, Amira studied at the RSAMD where she won numerous prizes and awards studying under Jerre Gibson and Simon Fischer. In 2005 she won a scholarship to study in the USA at the University of Texas under international soloist and professor Brian Lewis. At UT she completed a Masters in Music degree and won the Outstanding Master of Music Recital Prize. Her studies were mostly funded by the Dewar Arts Awards. Since returning to Scotland, Amira enjoys a busy freelance career taking her on tours of Germany, Spain, India and the Middle East and several appearances at the BBC Proms. She recently performed Sibelius violin concerto with the Glasgow Sinfonia and leads the newly formed Dewar Ensemble. Amira plays on a beautiful 1760 Piattellini violin.

Stephen Chambers - Arturo

Proudly of Scottish parentage, New Zealand tenor Stephen Chambers is a recent graduate of the RSAMD Opera course, having studied with Stephen Robertson. Stephen also holds a GPD (Opera) from the Boston Conservatory, as well as a MusB(Hons.) and a BSc in Physiology from The University of Otago. Operatic roles played by Stephen include Albert in Albert Herring, The Schoolmaster in The Cunning Little Vixen, Lt. Bonner in War & Peace, Peter Quint in Turn of the Screw, and Tamino in Die Zauberflote. In 2011 Stephen attended a Britten Pears Young Artist Programme studying Bach's St. John Passion with Mark Padmore. Stephen also became a Samling Scholar and recently returned from both the Handel/Mozart and contemporary music academies in the Aix-en-Provence Festival. Most recently he was the winner of the Frank Spedding Lieder Prize and the Ye Cronies Opera Prize at the RSAMD. Throughout his studies at the RSAMD, Stephen was supported by the ABRSM as their International Postgraduate Scholar. Stephen is also supported by the Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarships Trust.

Nicholas Cowie - Ensemble Bass

In his third undergraduate year at the RSAMD and studying with Alan Watt, Nicholas started singing lessons with his father Gordon Cowie. A member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland, Nick made his solo debut with them singing 'The Call' from Vaughan Williams 'Five Mystical Songs' which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. As well as being heavily involved in the chorus of the RSAMD's productions of 'The Love For Three Oranges', 'The Tales of Hoffmann' and 'The Marriage of Figaro', Nick was also a chorus member in the Samling Foundation's production of Don Giovanni, which was directed by Sir Thomas Allen and featured Lisa Milne and Christopher Maltman. Nick has been a choral scholar at New Kilpatrick Church in Bearsden with whom he has performed solos in Handel's 'Messiah', Schubert's Mass in G and Stainer's 'Crucifixion'. At the RSAMD Nick was highly commended in the Highgate Competition this year and is a recipient of the Peter Mooney Award.

Alistair Digges - Edgardo

Alistair was born in Glasgow and studied at the RSAMD and the Royal College of Music International Opera School where he held Ackroyd and Mason scholarships and was winner of the Knights of the Round Table Prize. He has played the roles of Nemorino in L'Elisir d'Amore (Opera South), Tamino in Die Zauberflote (Dartington Festival Opera), Dumain in Verlorene Liebesm (Opera Da Camera Linz, Austria), Belfiore in La Finta Giardiniera, Arnalta in L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Sellem in The Rake's Progress, La Thre in L'Enfant et Les Sortilges, Schoolmaster/ Mosquito in The Cunning Little Vixen, and Flute in Midsummer Night's Dream (RCM). He has sung extensively as an oratorio soloist in Britain and France, visiting many of the country's finest cathedrals and concert halls. Recently Alistair played the title role in the world premier of Sir Nigel of Tilford under the baton of Laurence Cummings, and gave a series of operatic recitals across India with soprano Patricia Rozario.

Laura Kelly - Alisa

Scottish Mezzo-soprano, Laura Kelly studied singing at the RSAMD graduating with a first class BMus Hons degree. Whilst studying there she was a winner of the Hugh S Roberton and George McVicar Memorial Scots song competitions. She recently graduated from the Royal Academy Opera School in London. She has a keen interest in Russian repertoire, gaining 2nd prize in the Ludmilla Andrew song competition. Operatic roles at the RAM include Juno in Handel’s Semele, Nancy in Britten’s Albert Herring, the Doctor/Officer in the world premiere of Peter Maxwell Davies Kommilitonen conducted by Jane Glover and directed by David Poutney, the role of Jenny Diver in Kurt Weill’s Die Dreigroschenoper. She has performed as a nun in 'Les dialogues des Carmelites' at the Edinburgh Festival with Stéphane Deneve conducting the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Cover roles include Siebel in Gounod’s Faust and Cherubino in Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro both for English National Opera. She recently performed the role of Olga with Stanley Hall Opera Company. Laura is supported by the Scottish International Educational Trust, the Robertson trust, the Cross trust, the Independent Opera and is a Dewar Arts Award recipient.

Christopher Nairne - Normanno

Christopher is currently studying with Stephen Robertson at the RSAMD. Born in Fife, he sang with Fife Opera, starting in the children's chorus before graduating to small principal roles. At the RSAMD he has appeared in several choruses for the Opera School productions and last year sang Luther in 'Tales of Hoffman'. In 2008 he was runner up in the Highgate Competition and recently sang Nick Shadow in the Rake's Progress and Lesbo in Agrippina in the Opera School Scenes. A member of NYCoS for five years, Christopher performed in many prestigious concerts and toured Chicago and Hungary. He is now choral scholar in Glasgow University Chapel Choir and his concert engagements include Haydn's Nelson Mass and Mozart's Requiem with Waverly Care and the Messiah with New Kilpatrick Choir. Last year he was baritone soloist at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo for The Homecoming and earlier this summer took part in the 'Liederabend recital, and in masterclasses with Malcolm Martineau.

Douglas Nairne - Enrico

Born in Fife, Douglas studied at the RSAMD, before winning a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music where he gained an advanced Masters with distinction. He was the baritone soloist in Faure's 'Requiem' with the Ulster Youth Choir in a live performance on BBC Radio Ulster and was the guest soloist with the Ulster Orchestra. In 2004 he led the National Anthem at Scotland's televised home games of the RBS 6 Nations Rugby Tournament and in 2009 appeared as the baritone soloist at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. His major roles include Carl Linden 'Bitter Sweet', Papageno 'Die Zauberflote' and Don Giovanni with Fife Opera, Morales 'Carmen' with Opera on a Shoestring, Dancairo 'Carmen' at Haddo House Opera, Silvio 'Pagliacci' with Lakeland Opera, Marcello ‘La Boheme’ with Opera Bohemia and Sid ‘Albert Herring’ with the RSAMD Opera School. He has covered roles at Scottish Opera, Garsington Opera and Dorset Opera. In October 2011 Douglas will begin his second year at the RSAMD Opera School, supported by the Robertson Trust.

Deborah Rudden - Ensemble Soprano

Scottish soprano Deborah Rudden graduated BMus(hons) from the RSAMD where she studies with Margaret Izatt. In 2008 she represented the Academy at the Kathleen Ferrier Award for Young Singers. Operatic roles include The Sandman, ’Hansel and Gretel’ (RSNO); First Witch, ‘Dido and Aeneas’ (Culross Festival); Stella, Les Contes d’Hoffman, Helena, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and First Genius ‘Die Zauberflöte’ (RSAMD); one of the Ladies of Mahagonny ‘The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny’(Edinburgh International Festival); Lauretta,‘ Gianni Schicci’ (Fife Opera). She has sung as soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Messiah and performed three concerts as part of the RSAMD Song Studio Series. Future engagements include a recital, staged opera scenes and a public masterclass with Lisa Milne at the Aberdeen Music Festival. Deborah will continue her studies on the MMus Performance course at the RSAMD in September this year supported by an Ian Fleming Award administered by the Musicians Benevolent Fund and scholarships from the Robertson Trust and the RSAMD.

Suzanne Shakespeare - Lucia

Australian soprano Suzanne Shakespeare holds an Artist Diploma in Opera at the Royal College of Music International Opera School London. She also has a Master of Music Performance (University of Melbourne, Australia) and a Licentiate of Trinity College London (Distinction) in both Voice and Piano. Operatic roles include Königin der Nacht: Die Zauberflöte, Tytania: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Serpetta: La finta giardiniera, Rosina: Il barbiere di Siviglia, Medora: Il Corsaro, Susanna: Marriage of Figaro, Musetta: La boheme, Adina: Elixir of Love, and Frasquita: Carmen Suzanne is the recipient of The Stuart Burrows International Voice Award 2011, The Georgina Joshi Award for 2008-10, the Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship and The Royal Over-Seas League Music Bursary (Australian Singing Competition). She has been supported by the Josephine Baker Trust and the Ian Potter Cultural Trust. Suzanne is the British School at Rome Youth Music Foundation of Australia Scholar for 2008-11. Suzanne will debut with Opera Australia in the 2011-12 Summer Season and is proud to return to Scotland, the country of her heritage, to perform Lucia with Opera Bohemia.

John Wilkie - Director

Born in Scotland John has performed, as an actor, with many theatre companies including St Andrews Byre, Edinburgh Traverse, Glasgow Citizens and Kirkcaldy Adam Smith, working also on television alongside Griff Rhys Jones for the BBC (Bookworm). Since moving to London in 2009, John has completed a six-month acting apprenticeship at the National Theatre where he worked with acclaimed directors, Stephen Daldry and Nicholas Hytner and has performed many roles including John David Grieg’s Outlying Islands and Eddie in Gregory Burke’s Gagarin Way (Bristol Theatre Royal) Henry V in Heny V and Antonio in The Merchant of Venice (York Shakespeare Company) and outreach programs with the Royal Shakespeare Company. As a Director, John has directed for the Red Box Theatre Company and for the celebrated award winning Sound & Fury Theatre Company at the Fringe Festival. He assisted in directing the Theatre Royal, Bristol’s Samuel Beckett season recently and is a regular guest-director for iSing UK. Recent opera directing engagements include associate director for Die Drei Pintos (Bloomsbury Theatre) and scenes at the Royal Academy of Music. John is very happy to be working with Opera Bohemia again after directing the company's inaugural production of La Boheme last year.