ENO is delighted to announce that its innovative and successful programme, ENO Young Singers, is to change its name to ENO Harewood Artists to reflect their talent, maturity and position within ENO. The name honours the long-standing support and leadership of the company by Lord Harewood, whose work at ENO spanned over 40 years. He made a huge contribution to ENO, and opera in general, during his remarkable life – as Managing Director, Chairman and latterly President of ENO, and in overseeing the creation of Opera North.
The programme, led by ENO Head of Casting, John McMurray, provides each year for around 12 outstanding professional singers at the outset of their career to perform and train with the Company. Designed to give the best support for singers today, it offers stage roles, bespoke training, including language coaching and performance psychology, and allows singers the flexibility to enjoy opportunities with other companies and spread their wings elsewhere.
This programme was established in 1998 with support from The Jerwood Foundation as The Jerwood Young Singers Programme. Since then it has continued with generous philanthropic support from Founding Patrons Sir Vernon and Lady Hazel Ellis, The Foyle Foundation, The Hedley Foundation and The Shears Foundation.
The training is based on the principal and cover roles the singers are doing at ENO.
The ENO Harewood Artists for the 2012/13 season are:
Mary Bevan
Katherine Broderick
Elizabeth Llewellyn
Rhian Lois
Julia Sporsén
Kate Valentine
Catherine Young
Ben Johnson
Nicky Spence
Benedict Nelson
Duncan Rock
George von Bergen
During the 2011/12 season, ENO Harewood Artists played the following roles:
Elizabeth Llewellyn (The Countess in The Marriage of Figaro)
Benedict Nelson (Belcore in The Elixir of Love, Billy Budd in Billy Budd)
Ben Johnson (Nemorino in The Elixir of Love)
Duncan Rock (Donald in Billy Budd)
Nicky Spence (Novice in Billy Budd)
Julia Sporsén (Katya in The Passenger and Livia in Caligula)
Kate Valentine (The Countess in The Marriage of Figaro)
Catherine Young (Voice of Antonia’s mother, The Tales of Hoffmann, Kate Pinkerton, Madam Butterfly)
Since the programmes launch in 1998 many singers have gone on to important careers including Colin Lee, Leigh Melrose, Iain Paterson, Sarah Tynan and Elizabeth Watts.
ENO Harewood Artists is supported by Founding Patrons Sir Vernon and Lady Hazel Ellis, The Shears Foundation and a syndicate of individual donors.