Laurie Ashworth
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Soprano Laurie Ashworth was born in Wigan, Lancashire.

 

She commenced her studies in 2002 at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Caroline Crawshaw and graduated with first class honours in 2006. Laurie won numerous prizes during her time at the RNCM, and at the end of her studies she was awarded 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 has had the privilege of participating 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, Malcolm Martineau, Roger Vignoles, Emmanuelle Haim, Julius Drake and Graham Johnson.

 

For the last ten years Laurie has specialised in the oratorio and concert repertoire and today she is a highly sought-after artist with an extensive repertoire. She has performed at many of the UK's major venues, including the Wigmore Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, De Montfort Hall in Leicester, Brangwyn Hall in Swansea and the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.

 

Laurie has also performed at numerous corporate events on the same bill as artists

such as Jocelyn Brown and Alexander O'Neal, and recently provided live backing

vocals for Goldfrapp at Mencap's Little Noise Sessions.                                           

 

Operatic roles have included Serpetta in La finta giardiniera for Ticino Musica in Switzerland, Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro for Opera Project, First Witch in Dido and Aeneas for the Opéra de Dijon, Spirit in Dido and Aeneas for Grange Park Opera and Lucy in Menotti's The Telephone for Wexford Festival Opera. 

 

Laurie's recordings and broadcasts include the premiere recording of Bob Chilcott's Requiem for Hyperion Records, Songs by Malcolm Arnold for remembrance CD Bright Jewels and 'Der Hölle Rache' from Die Zauberflöte for Granada TV’s The Worst Witch.

 

Since being a finalist and runner-up in BBC Radio 2’s The Kiri Prize; a nationwide search by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and the BBC to find a new operatic star, Laurie has made numerous appearances on Friday Night is Music Night.

 

Future engagements include opera galas with the Southbank Sinfonia under the direction of Simon Over and Handel's Messiah at Wells Cathedral.