Pegasus Opera Company announce eight singers taking part in mentoring programme in association with Glyndebourne Opera

Pegasus Opera Company's trailblazing 2023 mentoring programme offers aspiring and emerging artists of African and Asian heritage a bespoke programme of coaching and mentoring opportunities. It was set up in response to the underrepresentation of classical singers from diverse backgrounds on opera stages. Eight singers have been chosen for the 2023 programme, and they will receive individual coaching sessions with sopranos Patricia Rozario, Maureen Brathwaite, and Alison Buchanan; mezzo soprano Ruby Philogene; countertenor Michael Harper; baritone Roderick Williams; and bass/baritone Keel Watson

Taking part in 2023 are, 

• Jasmine Flicker, soprano -  a British classical singer and violinist, specialising in repertoire of the Baroque period. She has just completed her final year of undergraduate studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, under the teaching of Neil Baker and coaching of Panaretos Kyriatzidis.
  
• Neeharika Gollapalli, soprano -  from India, she started her musical journey as an Indian classical singer, before training in Western classical music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, under Joan Rogers and Rinka Bouwemeester. She graduated in 2019 with a B.Mus in Performance. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Performance at the same institution.
  
• Moloko Letsoalo, soprano -  from South African, she obtained her Bachelor of Music from the University of Cape Town in 2019. She recently completed a Master of Performance degree specialising in opera at the Royal College of Music in London on scholarship, under the tutelage of Janis Kelly.
  
• Isabella Moore, soprano -  a New Zealand born Sāmoan soprano. She made her UK operatic debut and role debut singing Gutrune in the GAFA Arts Collective production of Wagner’s Götterdamerung.
  
• Roberta Philip, soprano - currently undertaking her postgraduate degree in Vocal Performance at Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the tutelage of John Evans and is a recipient of the Help Musicians Postgraduate Award.
  
• Aina Miyagi Magnell, mezzo-soprano - a master’s degree student at Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she studies with Marilyn Rees.
  
• Carlos Felipe Cerchiaro, baritone -  Colombian-Italian, a Master’s student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, he has soloist in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier with the Colombian National Opera
  
• Masimba Ushe, bass - holds a Masters’ degree in Vocal Studies from the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied under Mark Wildman and Ingrid Surgenor.
  

Glyndebourne Opera is Pegasus’ main partner in this programme and this is the second year that Glyndebourne has partnered with Pegasus Opera on its opera mentoring programme. Glyndebourne is providing mentorship to four singers on the programme, Jasmine Flicker, Moloko Letsoalo, Carlos Felip Cerchiaro and Masimba Ushe.

The participants mentored by Glyndebourne will be given opportunities to observe rehearsals and shadow established artists at the 2023 Glyndebourne Festival, as well as receiving opportunities to perform for key artistic staff and receive feedback to aid their development. They will also be introduced to other departments at Glyndebourne for insight into the full range of career opportunities in opera.

The other four singers will be mentored by Pegasus, and will be offered masterclasses with Alison Buchanan, as well as opportunities to attend opera productions and receive input and feedback from industry leaders, including agents, communication specialists and dramaturges.

Further information from Pegasus Opera's website.