INDEPENDENT OPERA at Sadler's Wells · Artist support

Louise Collett Mezzo Soprano

Recipient of INDEPENDENT OPERA Vocal Scholarship at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

Louise Collett began her studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2002 and completed with honours a BMus and the Post Graduate Diploma in Concert Singing. Louise joined the Alexander Gibson Opera School at the RSAMD in 2007, where she studies with Kathleen McKellar Ferguson. Louise's competitive successes include, finalist in the Kathleen Ferrier Bursary for Young Singers, winner of the Jean Highgate Competition, Governers' Recital Prize, Frank Spedding Lieder Prize, Margaret Dick Competition Prize and second place in the Ye Cronies Opera Award.

Louise has appeared in the chorus of Handel's Alcina and Verdi's Falstaff. Roles at the RSAMD have included Arnalta (L'incoronazione di Poppea), Third Lady (The Vanishing Bridegroom), Older Woman (Flight), Florence Pike (Albert Herring) and Olga (Eugene Onegin). Other roles include Lehrbube (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg) and Mere Jeanne (Les Dialogues des Carmelites), both in concert performance at the Edinburgh International Festival. In 2007, Louise sang in the Chorus of the Bayreuth Festival, Germany, appearing in Parsifal, Tannhaüser and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. For Scottish Opera as cover of the role of Mrs Chin/Old Crone (A Night at the Chinese Opera) in 2008 and performing the role of Olga (Merry Widow) with Scottish Opera Go Round.

Louise’s concert repertoire includes Handel’s Messiah and Israel in Egypt, Bach’s Wienachts Oratorium, St. John Passion and Magnificat, Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Mass, Berio’s Folksongs with the Hebrides Ensemble, Duruflé’s Requiem, Schumann’s Frauenliebe und leben and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb.

Louise has received support in her studies from The Tillett Trust, The Musicians Benevolent Fund and The RSAMD Trust Fund.