We are delighted to announce two members of Scottish Opera Young Company (SOYC), mezzo-soprano Imogen Bews (21) from Aberdeen and baritone Joshua Campbell (21) from North Ayrshire, have been awarded our Audition Bursary Prize, funded by The Leverhulme Trust. Imogen has already performed with SOYC in Rubble (2022) and The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken (2021), while Joshua joins the Company for the first time this year.
Chris Gray, Young Company Artistic Director said: 'The Leverhulme Best Audition Prize is our opportunity to provide support to SOYC members who show outstanding potential. This year was excellent across the board, including both old and new faces. Each participant undertakes an extensive process that includes a drama workshop, music audition and interview. Awarding these prizes is always difficult; each person brings something unique and inspiring to the process. This year Imogen and Joshua presented superbly prepared auditions as well as bringing energy and enthusiasm to the drama exercises, showing great openness, skill and potential.'
Imogen Bews in Scottish Opera Young Company's Rubble 2022. Credit Sally Jubb.
This is the second year the bursary has been awarded, enabling more of Scotland’s young singers to take part and develop their talent through our specialist music training and performance programme. Across what is a four-year programme, the bursaries aim to offer financial support to dozens of young people across Scotland who face financial and geographic barriers to access our annual Scottish Opera Young Company programme. Part of this funding includes the Audition Bursary Prize, which covers the membership fee to join the Young Company.
Imogen said: ‘The bursary has enabled me to expand my repertoire as well as helping me gain greater exposure to a broader range of performances. Being part of the Scottish Opera Young Company for the last four years has allowed me to experience the pleasure of live performance at its most vulnerable form, increasing my confidence as a vocalist and performer. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been involved in a fantastic range of productions, all which have left me with new skills, friends, and valuable memories. I would encourage anybody with a passion for performance to join.’
Joshua Campbell in Scottish Opera Young Company rehearsals 2022. Credit Elaine Livingstone.
Joshua said: ‘Since receiving the bursary award I have been presented with the wonderful opportunity to learn new and exciting work and further develop my knowledge of performing as part of an ensemble, helping to better my understanding of musicianship. This being my first year at Scottish Opera, I have been inspired to step outside of my comfort zone and experience the feeling of accomplishment in live performance. I have already made many valuable memories and would strongly recommend applying to the Young Company to anyone who has a drive and love of performing.’
Rehearsing throughout the year, Young Company members work with a range of opera professionals – including directors, choreographers, conductors and vocal coaches – to hone their skills, culminating in their own fully-staged production.
For more information about Young Company visit: www.scottishopera.org.uk/join-in/scottish-opera-young-company/