;)
I was very fortunate to be one of the few Australians to be invited by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to a reception given at Buckingham Palace on 13th October 2011. The reception was to proceed Her Majesty's Royal visit to the Commonwealth of Australia, where she met Australians living or working in the UK and for those with significant associations with the country.
It was a very rare occasion that one is invited to THE palace, but also to meet so many interesting people from such a vast variety of fields. The two ballrooms in the palace were filled with various writers, government officials, actors, military personnel, directors, musicians, professors, businessmen, CEOs, etc. There was a wonderful atmosphere at the function where the warm, friendly buzz of fellow Australians filled the elegant rooms of the palace, feasting on different wines, juices, canapés and, of course, we cannot forget the mini lamingtons!
Among the 350 at the reception, I felt especially honoured to meet The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Earl of Wessex, The Duchess of Gloucester, Hugh Jackman, Elle McPherson, Tom Hooper and Yvonne Kenny.
It was an experience I shall never forget; walking through the front gates of Buckingham Palace and into the Royal Ballroom, representing my country. It was a very proud moment and an amazing evening!
[ view entry ] ( 541 views ) | related link
Sky Ingram will sing Frau Fluth in Nicolai's Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor
Clive Timms conductor
Harry Fehr director
Tom Rogers designer
Colin Grenfell lighting designer
Libretto by Salomon Hermann Mosenthal, after The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare
Nicolai’s treatment of Shakespeare’s original play is bursting with humour and Italianate melody, while the orchestral writing is reminiscent of much of the German Romantic movement. First performed in Berlin in 1849, shortly before Nicolai’s early and untimely death two months later, the opera follows the story of the fat knight Sir John Falstaff, and his attempts to court two wealthy ladies.
Sung in German with English surtitles
When: 12, 16th November 2011
Venue: The Guildhall Theatre, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Silk Street, London.
Reserved tickets: £25 (£15 concessions, £5 Guildhall staff and students) available from the Barbican Box Office 020 7638 8891 (www.barbican.org.uk) from 10 September. Group discount available (020 7382 7211).
[ view entry ] ( 472 views ) | related link
Guildhall Symphony and Orchestra
Wagner Prelude & Liebestod: Tristan und Isolde
Poulenc Gloria
Stravinsky The Rite of Spring
Adrian Leaper conductor
Sky Ingram soprano
Kicking off the School’s orchestral season is Stravinsky’s seminal and vibrant work The Rite of Spring, which famously caused a riot at its premiere in Paris in 1913. Just as exuberant, albeit for vastly different reasons, is Poulenc’s Gloria, which features Guildhall School singer Sky Ingram as soloist. Adrian Leaper, Principal Conductor of Spain’s RTVE Symphony Orchestra, leads the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in what promises to be a thrilling start to the year.
When: Friday 30 September at 7:30
Where
Reserved tickets: £15, £10 (£5 concessions, Guildhall staff and students) available now from the Barbican Box Office 020 7638 8891 (www.barbican.org.uk). Group discount available (020 7382 7211).
;)
[ view entry ] ( 1017 views )
;)
Thank you to the Wingate Scholarships Committee for awarding me a two year scholarship towards my place on the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music Drama. I am very grateful for the opportunity they have now given me to live and study in London and attend this prestigious opera course.
"Wingate Scholarships are awarded to outstanding individuals of great potential or proven excellence who need financial support to undertake creative or original work of intellectual, scientific, artistic, social or environmental value and to musicians for advanced training."
[ view entry ] ( 1505 views ) | related link
Thank you to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for awarding me a scholarship to cover my fees for 2010-2011 in the Opera Course. I am very excited about my place on the Opera Course and look forward to all the classes, coachings, performances and opportunities that the course has to offer!
[ view entry ] ( 1304 views ) | related link
