<Bancos>

Monica Bancoş Soprano

Recipient of INDEPENDENT OPERA Voice Fellowship 2010-2012 & INDEPENDENT OPERA / Royal College of Music Vocal Scholarship 2009-2010

Born in Romania, Monica Bancoş developed an interest in music at an early age. Having studied piano for eight years, a consultation with the eminent Romanian choral conductor Nicolae Bica convinced her to start training her voice. Monica read Law for two years until she gained a place at the National University of Music in Bucharest, where she studied singing with the distinguished Romanian soprano Georgeta Stoleriu. During this period, she performed the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, performed the stage premier of The Last days, the last hours with Romanian Opera in the George Enescu International Festival and was awarded the Iolanda Marculescu Scholarship. In addition, Monica was a prize-winner at the 2006 Malmö Vocal Competition, and was awarded a Yamaha Vocal Scholarship in 2007.

In 2007, Monica decided to further her vocal development at the Royal College of Music. In 2010 she graduated from the RCM International Opera School where she studied with Nicholas Sears and was an Independent Opera Scholar. During her studies at RCM she worked with Michael Rosewell as a conductor for her performances as Forester’s Wife and The Owl in Jo Davies’ production of Janácek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, Arminda in La Finta Giardiniera by Mozart directed by Jean Claude Auvray, Helena in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Ian Judge and Erste Dame in Tim Carroll’s production of Die Zauber Flöte by Mozart.

On the concert platform she performed Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem under the baton of Leif Segerstam, Britten’s War Requiem with Martin Andre at the opening of the new Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall at the RCM, Mozart’s Requiem Mass at St Martin-in the-Fields, Dvorak’s Te Deum and Gounod’s Saint Cecilia Mass. She was a finalist in the Lies Askonas Vocal Competition and Richard Tauber Prize for Singers at the Wigmore Hall. In April 2009 she was the winner of the second prize at the 54^th edition of the Kathleen Ferrier Competition for singers.

Monica continues as an Independent Opera Fellow and from autumn 2010 she will study on the Masters Programme at RCM.