Mezzo-Soprano Olivia Hamblyn is currently completing her undergraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music under principal vocal tutor, Louise Winter. Recent solo repertoire includes Vivaldi’s Gloria and Magnificat, Rutter’s Feel the Spirit, Beethoven’s Mass in C major, Haydn’s St Nicolaus Mass and Vaughan William’s Serenade of Music and has recently won the James Martin Oncken Song Prize.

 

Olivia frequently appears in the RNCM opera productions, performing recently in Messager’s ‘Veronique’ as Countess Emerance, Puccini’s ‘Suor Angelica’ and Vaughan Williams’ ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’- where she played the cover of PickThank.

 

Alongside her solo engagements Olivia frequently performs a diverse range of music with choirs and ensembles around the country including: the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, the Hallé Choir, RNCM Chamber Choir and Kantos Chamber Choir. Olivia is also a founding member of newly formed, Manchester based vocal octet ‘Manchester Vox’.  Recent performances with these ensembles include: a new composition by Anna Meredith performed at the opening night of this year’s BBC Proms; Elgar’s ‘Dream of Gerontius’ conducted by Sir Simon Rattle accompanied by the Vienna Philharmonic; the world premiere of Rebecca Dale’s ‘Requiem for My Mother’, later recorded alongside the Liverpool Philharmonic.

Olivia has recorded many choral pieces with these ensembles working with both Decca Classics and the Hallé recording label.

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Olivia also works in engagements with young children in the hopes that she can venture into work with children and young adults in the future. Such engagements include, the Halle Youth Choirs, Sing for Pleasure Children’s’ Singing Week assisting with local school choirs and helping with the RNCM Children’s Opera Project where Olivia went into underprivileged schools to help the children create their own story and to compose their own music. This was then showcased in a matinee and evening performance in the RNCM Opera Theatre, in which she aided them on stage.