Timing is everything in opera and Dominic Sedgwick put this to the test when he joined us recently for our Samling Futures school visits. Could he finish his last aria as Marullo in Rigoletto at the Royal Opera House, get out of his costume and cycle across London in time for the last train to Newcastle? Happily, Dominic rose to the challenge and made it north to join fellow Samling Artists mezzo-soprano Heather Lowe and pianist Lana Bode and five Academy Singers for three days of workshops.
Our team visited state secondary schools in Gateshead, Durham and Berwickshire, giving a lively introduction to classical singing though masterclasses with our Academy Singers and students from each school. Heather and Dominic used group activities to give students a ‘tool kit’ for singing and at the end of each session, they treated the audience to a performance of Mozart’s duet ‘La ci darem la mano’ from Don Giovanni.
‘Your visit really opened our students’ ears to what for many of them is an entirely new style of singing. They all really enjoyed it and the duet at the end was quite wonderful!’
Cameron Mabon, Principal Teacher, Expressive Arts, Berwickshire High School.
