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Artistic Director Malcolm Martineau leads a team of distinguished tutors in this summer school

04/04/2026

⏳ Last chance to apply for Opera Scenes at Oxenfoord!

Our Opera Scenes specialist track is filling quickly and the application deadline is approaching.

During the week you'll
🎭 Rehearse and stage opera scenes tailored to your voice
🎶 Receive intensive musical coaching
🎼 Work with conductors from the Royal Ballet & Opera and Opera North
🌟 Perform in the final Oxenfoord showcase

Directed by Linda Ormiston and Donald Maxwell, the programme offers a focused, professional rehearsal process designed to help singers grow quickly and perform with confidence.

Places are limited and applications close soon.

📌 Apply now before the deadline.

02/04/2026

And finally, shining bright in our vocal scholarship lineup is the winner of the McDowell Family Award, Charlotte Crane!

Charlotte is a soprano in her fourth year at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama - Coleg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru where she studies with Suzanne Murphy. Originally from a village in Derbyshire, she began her musical journey through piano, choir, and musical theatre, developing a love of singing from an early age with the support of inspiring vocal teachers. Her training has been shaped by an international outlook, including sixth form study at Brighton College Bangkok and time spent living in Madrid, where she explored new musical and cultural influences. She continues to build on this through a wide-ranging approach to repertoire and performance. Charlotte attended Oxenfoord last year for the first time and also represented RWCMD in the inaugural Sir Bryn Terfel Song Prize.

Now based in Cardiff, Charlotte performs regularly with the BBC National Chorus of Wales, gaining valuable experience working on large-scale choral repertoire.

01/04/2026

Meet our next trailblazer, Rachael Liddell, the talented Scottish mezzo soprano who will join us as the Emma Kerr Classical Singing Awardee!

A graduate, Rachael has dazzled audiences worldwide with her stunning performances in both choral and solo repertoire. Her impressive credits include lead roles in Sense & Sensibility: The Musical and One Shoe of Each Colour, as well as performances with Philharmonia Voices, , and .

We're thrilled to support Rachael's continued growth with the Emma Kerr Classical Singing Award, established in memory of the remarkable Emma Kerr. This award is a testament to the power of community and the impact we can have when we come together to empower talented artists. Thank you to everyone who supported , your generosity will enable Scottish Mezzos the chance to attend Oxenfoord for years to come!

31/03/2026

Joining us as our inaugural Viola Tait Award recipient is Australian soprano Eden Shifroni.

Currently studying at the Royal College of Music Opera Studio with Russell Smythe, Eden's achievements are a testament to her dedication and passion. She's taken the opera world by storm, winning the 2024 IFAC Australian Singing Competition and the Audience Prize at the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award. Her impressive performances include Pamina in The Magic Flute, Serpetta in La finta giardiniera, and Poppea in the Australian premiere of Elena Kats-Chernin's re-orchestration of Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea.

We are grateful to Isla Baring for supporting us with this award and championing young Australians to chase their dreams in the UK!

Want to support a young singer to attend Oxenfoord next year? Visit our website to find out more!

30/03/2026

This year's recipient of the Hester Dickson Award is American mezzo-soprano Parker Millspaugh.

Celebrated for her commitment to authenticity and her love for story-telling, Parker finds herself at home across all genres of music. As an accomplished recitalist and prize-winning singer, she delivers compelling and honest performances spanning opera, musical theatre, oratorio, recital, and Scots Song repertoire. Since her move to Glasgow, Parker has expanded her musical horizons and further delved into Scottish traditional and modern repertoire, creating a deeper musical and personal connection with her new home.

Welcome to Oxenfoord Summer School we’re excited to have you with us!

29/03/2026

This week, we're celebrating our prizewinners and bursary holders!

We're thrilled to announce we have been able to award 6 full scholarships and 27 partial bursaries to talented students this year, a testament to their hard work and dedication. The competition was fierce, but our scholars truly stood out, and we couldn't be prouder!

A huge thank you to our Friends of Oxenfoord, whose generosity and belief in our mission make these awards possible. If you're inspired to join our Friends Scheme and help us empower more students through music education, visit www.https://oxenfoordinternational.co.uk/become-a-friend to learn more!

Throughout this week, we'll be introducing our full scholarship winners, so join us in celebrating their outstanding achievements!

24/03/2026

What a superstar Liam Bonthrone is! We are so proud to have been a small part of his musical journey and can't wait to see what's next for him!

18/03/2026

🎼 How Opera Scenes Are Created at Oxenfoord

Every year, our Opera Scenes programme is tailor made around the singers who apply.

After applications are received in April, our directors Linda Ormiston and Donald Maxwell carefully select scenes that suit the voice types and personalities of the cast.

That means:
✨ The repertoire fits the singers
✨ Each singer receives meaningful stage time
✨ The scenes become real theatrical experiences

Throughout the week, singers work closely with our directors, conductors and pianists through an intensive process that is a sneak peak into what it's like to work in a professional opera house.

From the first musical coaching to the final staged showcase, the focus is on professional-level preparation in a supportive environment.

If you're ready to dive deeply into operatic storytelling, Oxenfoord’s Opera Scenes track is designed for exactly that.

⏳ Only a few weeks remain to apply, so apply now to secure your place!

15/03/2026

Discover Opera Scenes at Oxenfoord International Summer School

Imagine spending a week immersed in opera: rehearsing, coaching and staging scenes with leading professionals from UK opera houses and institutions.

Our Opera Scenes specialist track gives singers the opportunity to work intensively on repertoire specifically chosen for their voice types, culminating in a showcase performance on the final day of Oxenfoord.

You'll work with an outstanding artistic team:
• Directors Linda Ormiston and Donald Maxwell
• Conductors Susanna Stranders (Royal Ballet & Opera) and Martin Pickard (Opera North)
• Our hand-picked team of world-class pianists

Across the week you'll receive:
🎶 Musical coachings and vocal lessons
🎭 Staging rehearsals
🎼 Ensemble work with conductors
🌟 A final showcase performance

If you're looking for a serious, supportive environment to develop your operatic craft, this is a rare opportunity. Stay tuned over the next week as we look at the Opera Scenes track in more detail!

📌 Applications for Opera Scenes close next month but places are limited and filling fast, so apply soon! Visit our website for more information: https://oxenfoordinternational.co.uk/

28/02/2026

In our final installment celebrating this year's pianists, please congratulate our two 2026 Fellows: Christina Koti and Markus Sadler!

As emerging artists with distinctive voices at the keyboard, they will have the opportunity to work closely with our staffing team, playing for classes, opera scenes and performances. Both Christina and Markus bring their musical insight, technical brilliance, and a deep commitment to collaborative music-making to Oxenfoord.

Welcome, Christina and Markus!

Address

Laidlaw Music Centre, University Of Street Andrews
St Andrews
KY169QF

Website

http://www.oxenfoordinternational.co.uk/

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