The Kathleen Ferrier Awards

Winners

Laurie Ashworth

Winner of the 2010 Kathleen Ferrier Song Prize, soprano Laurie Ashworth was born in 1983 in Lancashire. She commenced her studies under the tutelage of Caroline Crawshaw at the RNCM in 2002 and graduated with first class honours, and with the RNCM Gold Medal, the college’s highest award for performance. Awards from The Arts and Humanities Research Council and The Countess of Munster Musical Trust enabled her to complete her Masters in Vocal Performance at the RCM, where she studied with Patricia Rozario and Janis Kelly, and graduated with distinction in 2008. During her studies Laurie participated in masterclasses and workshops with artists including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Anne Howells, Robin Stapleton, Sarah Walker, Mary Plazas, Valerie Masterson, Philip Langridge, Robert Tear, Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake and Graham Johnson.

At home both on the operatic stage and the concert platform, Laurie has performed at many of the UK's major venues, including the Wigmore Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. She has a wide repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Messiaen, and a particular interest in song.

Operatic roles have included Serpetta (La Finta Giardiniera) for Ticino Musica in Switzerland, Gaia in Martin Read’s 'Rainforest,' an opera commissioned by Opera Minima in 2007, Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro) for Opera Project, Spirit (Dido and Aeneas) for Grange Park Opera, and numerous small roles for British Youth Opera.

Laurie also has extensive experience of performing in corporate and charity functions, and has appeared with artistes such as Alexander O'Neal and Jocelyn Brown. She has made some notable recordings, including songs by Malcolm Arnold for a remembrance CD 'Bright Jewels,' and Mozart’s aria 'Der Hölle Rache' for Granada TV’s 'The Worst Witch.'

Future engagements include Schubert's 'Mass in Eb' under the direction of Bob Chilcott at Dartington International Summer Festival.

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