Evelyn Nicholson MA London, *A Mus LCM, PPRNCN, PGCE

Singing, Vocal Coaching, Voice Building

Evelyn is a professional soprano. She obtained her MA degree at University College London. She also gained her PGCE before taking a place at The Royal Northern College of Music where she gained a Scholarship for Opera (awarded by Peter Moores). She also studied with Andrew Field, Caroline Crawshaw and Audrey Langford in the UK and also with Sena Jurinac at the Musikhochschule in Vienna.

In 1985 she was one of thirteen students selected for the National Opera Studio, London. Whilst in her third year at the Royal Northern College Of Music, she won a major Scholarship and the Ricordi Prize for Italian Opera (UK). She was also offered her first role in Don Giovanni as Donna Elvira for Opera North. She has sung the role of Elvira in Verdi’s Ernani both at the Opera Theatre at RNCM conducted by Sir Edward Downes and for the Welsh National Opera conducted by Richard Armstrong. She was a principal at the Welsh National Opera and Scottish Opera singing lead roles such as Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute (also in concert at the Royal Albert Hall). She has also sung this role for Opera North and was presented to Princess Anne after the inaugural opening performance at the New Theatre in Hull. She made her mark singing Wagner when she starred as Ortlinde in the Walküre. Evelyn has appeared in the great cathedrals Autun and Vezelay, France, in performances of The Creation with the massed choirs of Europe which was broadcast on TV throughout the EU. She has sung oratorio performances throughout Germany and sang the part of Liu in Pucinni’s Turandot along side singers from the Paris Opera.

Other work in Germany has included Der Rosenkavalier and Der Freischutz in Bayreuth and the principal role of Venus in Tannhäuser. Other Operatic credits include; Donna Anna, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni for Scottish Opera and English National Opera (where she worked as a principal alongside Lesley Garrett), Elizabeth I in Maria Stuarda and Sinaida in Mosse In Egitto, also for ENO, Leonora in II Travatore ENO and WNO, Aida for Opera North, Elvira in Verdi’s Ernani for WNO, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus ENO and she has also understudied Medea for Rosalind Plowright at the Buxton Festival. She has appeared at the Covent Garden and Edinburgh Festivals and has sung Sieglinde in Wagner’s Walküre and Isolde in Tristan and Isolde with Alberto Ramedios for the British Wagner Society. She joined Bryn Terfyl as a principal to sing the Verdi Requiem in Wales and also manages to appear in many concerts and galas in the UK and Europe.

As with many good professionals, Evelyn is also a talented teacher and many of her students have gone on to sing in West End Musicals whilst others have won Scholarships to major music schools in the UK. Evelyn is married and her son Christian is also a talented singer and musician playing the violin & piano to a very high standard. At 13, he was the youngest person in the UK to attain his diploma in singing from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Over the last 2 years, Evelyn has given her services freely into training the Nidus Children’s Choir.