We are delighted to have supported artists at the following conservatoires over the years and are thankful for their partnership:
- Guildhall School of Music & Drama
- National Opera Studio
- Royal Academy of Music
- Royal College of Music
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Royal Northern College of Music
Voice Scholarship
The Independent Opera Voice Scholarships were awarded annually to a singer entering their final year of a specialist opera course at each of our partner music conservatoires.
This award provided funding of £5,000 to each recipient towards course fees or living expenses. Scholars also received invitations to specialist mentoring and skills-building events, as well as professional headshots and one-to-one mentoring with the IO Team. From 2017, Scholars were also given the opportunity to perform in the annual Scholars’ Recital at Wigmore Hall.
Selection for the award was via audition held at our partner music conservatoires in the spring and summer terms, and awards began at the start of each new academic year in September.
Since the launch of IO Voice Scholarships, 64 singers received support including notable recipients Natalya Romaniw, Duncan Rock and Ben Johnson.
Voice Fellowship
Supporting emerging artists after music conservatoire training and those who had not pursued a traditional pathway, the Postgraduate Voice Fellowship award provided each recipient with £5,000 to support their professional development and first steps in the industry. Fellows were encouraged to use the funds towards activities such as singing lessons, coaching sessions, hiring of pianists, audition travel and expenses, language courses and music score purchase. Similar to our Scholarship award, recipients were given access to professional development events, professional headshots and one-to-one mentoring with the IO Team.
Candidates were identified by Independent Opera’s creative and management team or nominated to apply by leading industry figures and our partner music conservatoires. Auditions were held in the spring and summer, with Fellowships beginning in September in line with our other awards.
Since 2007, 66 singers have been awarded a Voice Fellowship including notable recipients Louise Alder, Catriona Morison, Kang Wang and Andrew Foster-Williams.
Wigmore Hall Voice Fellowship
The Wigmore Hall/Independent Opera Voice Fellowship was designed to further the already promising career of a singer committed to both opera and song. Candidates were chosen from participants in the biennial Wigmore Hall/Kohn Foundation International Song Competition.
The Fellowship provided between £5,000 and £10,000 per annum for up to two years and was unique in that the recipient was mentored under the auspices of Wigmore Hall, providing unprecedented opportunities for access to singing lessons and coaching with leading international opera and song performers. Guidance was provided on repertoire, management, recordings and career development. A Wigmore Hall recital, or other opportunities to perform at Wigmore Hall, were offered to the recipient at the Hall’s discretion.
Seven Fellowships were awarded between 2007 and 2017, to Matthew Rose, Gaëlle Arquez, Clara Mouriz, Dominik Köninger, Anna Huntley and James Newby. The final WH/IO Voice Fellowship was awarded to Slovakian bass Peter Kellner.
Artistic Director Fellowship
The Independent Opera Artistic Director’s Fellowship was designed to further an already promising directing career and was awarded to Alessandro Talevi in 2007.
Alessandro was appointed as IO’s first Artistic Director (2007-2011) shortly after completing his studies at the Royal Academy of Music. He has since gone on to forge an international career as a director.
During his tenure Alessandro programmed and directed three productions for IO: Orlando (2006), The Sofa and The Departure (2007) and Pelléas et Mélisande (2008). He oversaw the launch and development of the Artist Support Programme, which included the Voice Scholarships and Fellowships. The Artistic Director Fellowship also included mentoring and support in developing contacts and partnerships with other UK arts institutions.
Alessandro Talevi, photograph Paul Foster-Williams
“The most challenging phase in a young director’s career is the transition from doing your own shoestring productions, and working as an assistant for established directors, to being trusted by opera companies and festivals with a full production of your own. This is where Independent Opera offers such a unique opportunity and fills a gap in the market, as it provides an unparalleled level of support for young directors to create high-quality productions in a central London venue.” Alessandro Talevi
Director Fellowship
For the 10th anniversary of Independent Opera, a competition was launched to find an emerging director. Marking our 100th award, the Director Fellowship was unique in the UK at the time, offering the recipient the opportunity to stage a chamber opera selected by IO at the Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells in 2015 and benefit from exceptional mentoring from internationally renowned directors and opera companies.
The winner, Max Hoehn, directed our 2015 production, Biedermann and the Arsonists. The second award was presented to Polly Graham, who directed our 2016 production, Simplicius Simplicissimus.
Further information about the competition and award recipients can be found on our dedicated Director Fellowship Competition page.
Sponsored Artist
In conjunction with our 2006 production of Handel’s Orlando, 2007 production of Maconchy’s The Sofa and The Departure, and our 2008 production of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande a series of Fellowships were awarded to sponsor the fees of emerging singers and creatives, and to offer further support in the process of creating a new production. This included a Design Fellowship, Choreographer Fellowship and sponsored roles. One-off awards have also included a producer fellowship.