WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER ‘Singing, Health & Wellbeing’

WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER

LAURA SHEERIN

Laura Sheerin, from Derry, obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in performance from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and was the recipient of the Young Musicians’ Platform Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the BBC for 2013-15.

On the operatic stage, Laura has performed such roles as Micaëla (Carmen) and Dido (Dido and Aeneas). Concert highlights include performances with the Ulster Orchestra and BBC Radio and Bach’s St. John Passion with the Chiswick Choir and Orchestra, and next year Laura will perform the role of Mimì (La Bohème) with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Zapopan, Mexico. Laura is delighted to have received invitations to sing at the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera House in their upcoming seasons.

DOREEN CURRAN

Born in Derry, Doreen Curran studied music at the DIT College of Music, Dublin and was awarded a BMus Performance Degree with First Class Honours. In 2000 she entered the Royal Northern College of Music and completed her studies at the National Opera Studio.

Doreen’s numerous operatic roles have included Ottavia (L’incoronazione di Poppea) for English National Opera and Mercedes (Carmen) for Glyndebourne Touring Opera. Solo engagements include Mahler’s 2nd symphony, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Handel’s Messiah in the Royal Festival Hall. She has performed with the National Symphony of Ireland, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra, and she has given recitals throughout Ireland, England, France, Germany and America.

BENITO RODRIGUEZ

Benito Rodriguez, from Guadalajara, Mexico, began his career in 2010 in the chorus of the Jose Cuervo Foundation in Tequila, and in 2011 he won the Plácido Domingo Scholarship. He has sung in many parts of the world, including the US, Canada, Israel, Italy, France and Dubai. This year, he performed alongside internationally acclaimed soprano Sumi Jo in a concert for the United Nations, and he has sung several times for Maestro Plácido Domingo, who has helped in the development of his career.

Benito has performed principal roles with many prestigious international houses, including the Operas of Québec and Montreal, Florida Grand Opera and New York City Opera. In spring 2019 he will perform Rodolfo from Puccini’s La Bohème in the Placido Domingo Theatre in Guadalajara with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Zapopan.

BRIAN MCALEA

Northern Irish baritone Brian McAlea graduated in music from the University of Oxford and subsequently won a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is a regular concert soloist, having performed Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation and Bach’s St. John Passion. Notable operatic roles have included Liberto in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, Tobias Mill in Rossini’s La cambiale di matrimonio and Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.

Brian has also performed with some of the country’s most notable ensembles, including the Gabrieli Consort, the Choir of the Age of Enlightenment, the Dunedin Consort, Britten Sinfonia Voices and Chamber Choir Ireland, and he is a founding member of Northern Ireland’s award-winning ensemble Sestina.