Abigail Barker
Abigail Barker is een 23-jarige sopraan uit Nottingham, die momenteel laatstejaarstudent is aan het Trinity Laban Conservatory of Music and Dance, onder leiding van Patricia Rozario en Helen Yorke. Omwille van haar enorme passie voor zangkunst ontving Abigail onlangs de eerste prijs in de Trinity Laban English Song Competition samen met haar duopartner Celia Margalef Boquera, met wie ze regelmatig optreedt. Daarnaast nam ze deel als finaliste in de Elisabeth Schumann Liederfestival en Lilian Ash French Song Competition. In oktober 2022 werd ze gekozen om Trinity Laban te vertegenwoordigen bij de Junior Kathleen Ferrier Awards. Verder ontving Abigail de eerste prijs in de Liz Chant Bursary Competition van Nottingham, die vervolgens leidde tot solokansen met het Nottingham Bach Choir, waar ze Roger Quilter's “Seven Elizabethan Lyrics” en Madeline Drings “Shakespeare Songs” uitvoerde tijdens hun zomerconcert van vorig jaar. Met een bijzondere liefde voor barokmuziek nam Abigail in de zomer van 2023 deel aan Michael Chance's Summer Academy 'SienAgosto', waar ze als soliste in de Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena mocht zingen en in prachtige kerken en kathedralen in de Contrada di Valdimontone. Naast haar studie bij Michael kreeg ze de kans om samen te werken met Lynne Dawson, Elisabeth Priday en Daniel Taylor. In de zomer van 2024 nam Abigail deel aan de Oxford International Summer Academy, opgericht door Malcolm Martineau, en werd gekozen voor de operascènes, waarbij ze optrad als Elisabetta uit Cimarosa's “Il Matrimonio Segreto” en Cobweb in Brittens “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Ze volge ook masterclasses bij gerenommeerde artiesten, waaronder Ailish Tynan, Pascal Rogé, Janis Kelly, Judith Howarth en Catherine Wyn-Rogers.
Abigail is een voormalig lid van het Old Royal Naval College Chapel Choir en trad op in een breed scala aan boeiende concerten, waaronder de uitvoering van Brahms “Ein Deutches Requiem”, in de Royal Festival Hall. Tevens zong ze met koor tijdens de viering van het Platinum Jubileum van de Engelse koningin op de BBC Songs of Praise. Ze treedt ook op met het gezelschap OperaMakers, gerund door Paneretos Kyriatzidis, en trad onlangs op in het koor voor hun concert ter ere van Internationale Vrouwendag, met de werken van Margaret Bonds, Amy Beach en Ethel Smyth.
ENG
Abigail Barker is a 23-year-old Nottingham born Soprano, currently in her final year of BMus Vocal Studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, under the tutelage of Patricia Rozario OBE and Helen Yorke, Vocal Coach. With a huge passion for art song, Abigail recently received the first prize in the Trinity Laban English Song Competition with her duo partner Celia Margalef Boquera, whom she regularly performs with in concert. As well as this, she has performed as a finalist in the Elisabeth Schumann Lieder and Lilian Ash French Song Competitions and was also chosen to represent Trinity Laban in the Junior Kathleen Ferrier Awards, back in October of 2022. Furthermore, Abigail received the first prize in the Liz Chant Bursary Competition, held in Nottingham, which then lead for solo opportunities with the Nottingham Bach Choir, where she performed Roger Quilter’s Seven Elizabethan Lyrics and Madeline Drings Shakespeare Songs in their summer concert of last year. With a particular love for Baroque Music, Abigail took part in Michael Chance’s Summer Academy ‘SienAgosto’ in the Summer of 2023, where she was able to sing as a soloist at the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena as well as in beautiful churches and cathedrals across the Contrada di Valdimontone. As well as studying with Michael, she had the opportunity to work with Lynne Dawson, Elisabeth Priday and Daniel Taylor. In the summer of 2024, Abigail took part in the Oxenfoord International Summer Academy, founded by Malcolm Martineau and was chosen to take part in the opera scenes, performing as Elisabetta from Cimarosa’s ‘Il Matrimonio Segreto’ and Cobweb in Britten’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. She has also benefitted from Masterclasses with renowned artists, including Ailish Tynan, Pascal Rogé, Janis Kelly, Judith Howarth and Catherine Wyn-Rogers.
Abigail is a former member of the Old Royal Naval College Chapel Choir and has performed in a wide array of exciting concerts, including a performance of Brahm’s ‘Ein Deutches Requiem’, held at the Royal Festival Hall and singing with the choir on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration on BBC Songs of Praise. She also performs with the OperaMakers company, ran by Paneretos Kyriatzidis, and most recently performed in the chorus for their concert celebrating International Womens Day, including works by Margaret Bonds, Amy Beach and Ethel Smyth.
