ENO Young Singers

ENO Harewood Artists, the first initiative of its kind in the UK, enables exceptionally talented UK-trained singers to perform with a major opera company while receiving specialist coaching, support and guidance. 

It was established in 1998 as a means of providing a full-time training and performance scheme for talented singers at the beginning of their careers. This allowed them to continue their technical development within the professional environment of a repertory opera company. 

The programme has now evolved to accommodate the changing needs of singers at this vital stage in their development, allowing a more flexible approach with an individually tailored scheme for around 12 singers across the season, who are no longer tied to a full-time salaried programme. This allows ENO to nurture a wider group of artists, from those performing small roles and covers through to singers who are already tackling main roles in the world’s most important theatres.

John McMurray, ENO’s Head of Casting, together with Sophie Joyce, Casting and ENO Harewood Artists Manager, oversees the programme and ensures that its members are provided with a constant and reliable core for mentoring, advice and career development. Members of the programme receive a variety of training, including coaching sessions with Head of Training Jane Robinson, Consultant Coach Michael Pollock and ENO music staff. In addition they may receive dramatic, movement, performance psychology and language coaching, as well as opportunities to learn from distinguished artists and leading figures from the operatic world who in past seasons have included; Dame Josephine Barstow, Joan Rodgers, Graham Clark, Yvonne Kenny, Ann Murray DBE, Stephen Lord, Gwynne Howell, Geraint Dodd, Robert Lloyd, Brindley Sherratt, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Matthew Epstein, Dame Felicity Lott, Diana Montague, Roderick Williams, Kim Begley, Iain Paterson.

Members of the ENO Young Singers Programme in the 2011/12 Season are Sophie Bevan, Katherine Broderick, Elizabeth Llewellyn, Benedict Nelson, Nicky Spence, Julia Sporsen, Allan Clayton, Kate Valentine, Catherine Young, Duncan Rock, Kathryn Rudge.

The name honours the long-standing support and leadership of the company by Lord Harewood, whose work at ENO spanned over 40 years. He made a huge contribution to ENO, and opera in general, during his remarkable life – as Managing Director, Chairman and latterly President of ENO, and in overseeing the creation of Opera North.

Members of the ENO Harewood Artists for the 2012/13 season are:

Mary Bevan, Katherine Broderick, Elizabeth Llewellyn, Rhian Lois, Julia Sporsén, Kate Valentine, Catherine Young, Ben Johnson, Nicky Spence, Benedict Nelson, Duncan Rock, George von Bergen.

The name honours the long-standing support and leadership of the company by Lord Harewood, whose work at ENO spanned over 40 years. He made a huge contribution to ENO, and opera in general, during his remarkable life – as Managing Director, Chairman and latterly President of ENO, and in overseeing the creation of Opera North.

Memebership of the ENO Harewood Artists Programme is by invitation only.

Supporters of the ENO Harewood Artists Programme

Debut Founding Patrons

Vernon & Hazel Ellis

Trust and Foundation Supporters

The Shears Foundation

Salomon Oppenheimer Philanthropic Foundation

Supporters

Neville & Nicola Abraham

Bob & Elisabeth Boas

Mr Ron Clatworthy

Sir Anthony & Lady Cleaver

David and Helen Crowe

Leopold de Rothschild

Philippa Drew

Adrian and Judith Dunn

Peter & Fiona Espenhahn

Nicholas & Judith Goodison

Liz Grimsey

Ray & Elizabeth Harsant

Rachel & Charles Henderson

Mr & Mrs Mark Holford

Talal & Lina Kanafani

Vivien Karam

Arthur Knight

Dr Angela Mackersie

Anthony Mackintosh

Mr Jan Matthews

Tina & Tom Maxwell

John & Caroline Nelson

Sir Bryan & Lady Nicholson

Alison Osborne

Hugh & Eleanor Paget

Graham & Alison Pimlott

Mr & Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers

Nicholas & Claire Prettejohn

Robert Ricks

Michael & Giustina Ryan

Ginny and Richard Salter

Carolina & Martin Schwab

Ms Cornelia von Rittberg

Major P.H. Williamson MBE

Lady Linda Wong Davies

George & Moira Yip

and four anonymous donors

For further information on how you can get involved in supporting this programme or other areas of ENO’s work please click here