About Me
Julia has been coaching singers for over 25 years and has enjoyed a singing career of more than 30 years, working with international conductors and orchestras.
She won a scholarship in 1982 to study with John Cameron at the Royal Northern College of Music.
During this time she won the John Wray Prize and a major scholarship from the Peter Moores Foundation.
As a mature student, Julia was invited to sing with the BBC Northern Singers for two years which involved many live performances and recordings. This was swiftly followed with three years in the Bayreuth Festival Chorus, Germany.
After graduating Julia was offered a Glyndebourne chorus contract but instead took up a bursary to study in Italy after reaching the finals of the Internazionale Concorso Voce Verdiane in Busetto.
She continued to sing as a soloist with many orchestras including the London Gala Orchestra, the Guildford Philharmonic and then two years with the Wexford Festival Opera.
She featured in a number of the popular 'Last Night of the Proms' at Crystal Palace, The Flying Proms in Biggleswade and Maldon Promenade.
Julia enjoyed a diversion into the world of television when she was cast in the major Granada series 'Lost Empires' playing the role of music hall artiste Vesta Tilley, which also starred Laurence Oliver and Colin Firth. Guest appearances in Coronation Street and Sherlock Holmes were also a highlight.
In London’s West End Julia was cast as Ella, the silent movie pianist in the award winning musical 'Mack and Mabel'. This led to an appearance in the Royal Variety Show the following year.
From 2013 - 2018, Julia was the vocal coach and musical director of the Muscat Royal Opera Chorus in a specialist music school under the provision of the Sultan of Oman. During that time, she worked alongside international choral conductors Rupert Huber (chorus master of the Bayerische Rundfunk and Vienna Staatsoper) and Roland Büchner (Regensburger Domspatzen choir, Germany). The chorus have been involved in many projects with the Royal Opera House Muscat and produced a number of private concerts for His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. This year she was invited to adjudicate for the 75th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival.
Julia has taught students who are now currently singing in the profession and supports singers to prepare for Music Conservatoires, Cathedral School Choirs and higher ABRSM grade examinations. However, she also has a passionate interest in helping all singers which might involve therapeutic work or gentle guiding to a path of healthy singing.
This journey is often one of incredible discovery, where the singer can tangibly feel the nurturing and balancing of the true voice working with a secure technique.