Samling Institute For Young Artists

Catrin Woodruff - Soprano, who recently graduated from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, is looking forward to working on French song repertoire when she joins us next week on the Samling Artist Programme:
'I’m very much looking forward to spending a week in beautiful surroundings, focusing solely on developing artistry, musicality and communication with guidance from wonderful tutors. It will also be wonderful to have time to focus on song repertoire – a rare treat! I will be... bringing some of my favourite French song repertoire with me by composers such as Poulenc, Pauline Viardot and Poldowski, and I look forward to exploring new ways of interpreting this beautiful music. I’m also very excited to bring some of my operatic repertoire to my coaching sessions, and plan to spend some time delving into characterisation and storytelling. I am so thrilled to be given this wonderful opportunity. Hopefully I will end the week as a braver and more spontaneous singer!'
Here's Catrin Woodruff singing Poulenc – playing Thérèse/Tirésias in Royal Conservatoire of Scotland production of Les Mamelles de Tirésias and you can come along and hear her at our Masterclass and Concert at Sage Gateshead on 7 March. http://www.samling.org.uk/event/sap-march -2020/
Photo credit: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland / Robbie McFadzean
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Today we introduce Edward Jowle - Baritone. Edward is a postgraduate student at Royal College of Music and he has a great story about attending a Samling Masterclass when he was younger:
'I first experienced Samling when was 17. A friend told me about a masterclass she was going to with Thomas Allen and I leapt at the chance to go with her, so I 'pulled a sicky', not something I'd wholly endorse in retrospect, and got the train up from Chesterfield. It was the first time I'd ...seen people of that standard working in such detail and with such enthusiasm on the various aspects of our craft and I was completely enthralled. I'm extremely fortunate to say that work now constitutes my everyday life and, seven years on, I'm over the moon to be returning to work with a fantastic set of tutors and peers, this time on stage'.
If you enjoy this video of Edward singing Figaro's final aria from Mozart's 'Le nozze di Figaro' – 'Aprite un po' quegli occhi' then come along to see him live at our Masterclass and concert on 7 March at Sage Gateshead http://www.samling.org.uk/event/sap-march -2020/ https://youtu.be/mJN-1TM3lpw
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Meet the first of our eight new Samling Artists – Scottish tenor Liam Bonthrone, who is currently in his second year of postgraduate study at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Looking ahead to the Samling Artist Programme, Liam says
'I'm so excited to explore a wide range of vocal repertoire, with such an outstanding gathering of renowned artists and fellow musicians. I'm very grateful for the chance to develop my performance skills in the unique environment of Samling - I c...an already tell it will be a week I won't forget!'
Here's Liam singing Don Ramiro in Rossini's La Cenerentola with British Youth Opera - a performance for which he was awarded the Basil A Turner Award by British Youth Opera and the Sadler's Wells Dame Hilda Bracket Prize. Photo credit: Robert Workman. Come along to see Liam (in more modest dress) at our Samling Artist Programme Masterclass on 7 March. http://www.samling.org.uk/event/sap-march -2020/
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Soprano Milly Forrest works on Handel's 'Mio caro bene' from Rodelinda, with leader James Garnon. Photo (c) Mark Pinder Photography

Our next Samling Artist Programme starts this coming weekend and we're looking forward to welcoming our eight new Samling Artists. We'll be introducing them all to you on our social media this week, and you'll be able to see them in action at Sage Gateshead on Saturday 7 March working in our public masterclass with leaders Anna Stéphay, Caroline Dowdle and James Garnon. http://www.samling.org.uk/event/sap-march -2020/

There's a lovely report by David Whetstone in today's Newcastle Journal of last week's Samling Futures event at Sacred Heart Catholic High School with Nicky Spence and Somi Kim.

This week we've been visiting schools in the region giving singing masterclasses with Samling Artists tenor Nicky Spence, pianist Somi Kim, and Samling Academy Singers. Thank you to The King Edward VI School Morpeth, Egglescliffe School in Stockton and Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Fenham for hosting us, and to all their students for being such enthusiastic and engaged audiences and asking insightful questions. We hope to see some of you again soon at Samling Academy auditions. To give a flavour of the day, here are a few photos from the visit to Sacred Heart High School. All photos (c) Mark Pinder Photography

Watch from 21'49 to see Samling Academy singers Tia Radix-Callixte, Patrick Owston and Ben Ryan, singing and working with Samling Artists tenor Nicky Spence and pianist Somi Kim, and talking about their experiences with Samling. The link is available until 7pm on Wednesday 12 February, so you'll have to be quick! https://www.bbc.co.uk/…/look-north-nort h-east-and-cumbria-e…

Look out for us on BBC Look North at 6.30 tonight: they're reporting on today's Samling Futures visits to North East schools, with Samling Artists Nicky Spence and Somi Kim, and Samling Academy singers. (We'll share links and photos later when they're available).

Did you know that we offer exclusive discounted tickets for our Samling Artist Programme Masterclasses to members of choirs and other singing groups in the North East? Attending a Masterclass is a rewarding experience for any singer, giving you the chance to pick up invaluable tips from some of the world's leading artists. You can sign up to our choirs mailing list here: http://www.samling.org.uk/choir-offer-sig n-up/

News: **The application deadline for Samling Academy 2020/21 has been extended to Wednesday 12 February.** Find out more about the fantastic opportunities we offer in this film, made last year when Samling Academy Singers joined Royal Northern Sinfonia, Sir Thomas Allen and Samling Artists in our Italian Opera Gala at Sage Gateshead. Link for applications: http://www.samling.org.uk/samlin…/samli ng-academy-auditions/

Are you thinking of applying for Samling Academy? Find out more about what to expect from soprano Zoë Jackson who took part in Samling Academy for several years and is now in her first year studying at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XYOJWNLE PQ

Applications are now open for Samling Academy 2020/21. Samling Academy offers fantastic development and performance opportunities to young classical singers who attend school or university in the North East, with many participants going on to music colleges and professional singing careers. Find out more and apply online: http://www.samling.org.uk/samlin…/samli ng-academy-auditions/

Our latest newsletter is out now. Read the cover story about our plans for 2020, including more news about this summer's Samling Academy Opera production of Mansfield Park, or download the complete newsletter here http://www.samling.org.uk/newsletter-55-t he-future-of-opera/

We're starting to look ahead to next summer's Samling Academy Opera production of Mansfield Park by Jonathan Dove – this video is an inspiring introduction to his music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQpw-EyN9 sA

Can you help us fund our Samling Academy Opera production of Jonathan Dove's 'Mansfield Park'? Thanks to a generous offer of £10,000 in match-funding, your donation will doubled and you will be giving young singers in the North East the opportunity to experience everything that goes into a fully-staged professional opera production. Find out more and donate online: http://www.samling.org.uk/opera-appeal/