12th February 2004 - NATIONAL OPERA STUDIO PRESS RELEASE

The trainees of the National Opera Studio travel to Cardiff on Tuesday (Feb 17th) to begin their two-week residency with Welsh National Opera. The twelve young singers and three trainee repetiteurs will spend a fortnight immersing themselves in the life of the company. They will rehearse with WNO staff, work on community and education projects with the WNO Max department, and will finish the residency by giving a concert of opera excerpts with the orchestra of WNO at Stanwell School in Penarth on Friday, February 27th.

National Opera Studio Director, Donald Maxwell, is certain of the value of the residency to his young singers: "Our annual visit to WNO is a highlight of the National Opera Studio year, and it is always an added delight to have a Welsh representative on the course, as we have this year in Cardiff-born baritone Paul Carey Jones. I look forward to bringing the cream of young British operatic talent to Wales."

The National Opera Studio, based in London, was established by the Arts Council as a link between the music colleges and the six main UK opera companies. The Studio provides a master course for a small number of young and exceptionally talented singers and repetiteurs, to prepare them for their professional careers in opera. Its alumni include Leah-Marian Jones, Katarina Karnéus, Wynne Evans, Mark Evans, Gwyn Hughes-Jones and Phillip Joll.