Rachel Ashton

Voice Type :
Soprano

E-mail Address :
Rachel@singingintherain.co.uk

Web Site :
www.rachelashton-soprano.tripod.com

RACHEL ASHTON comes from Ince Blundell, Merseyside. She was educated at Merchant Taylors' School for Girls and Lancaster University where she gained a 2:1 in Linguistics with Italian.

In 2001 Rachel was awarded a place on the postgraduate diploma vocal studies course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, supported by a bursary from the Laura Ashley Foundation. After successfully completing her diploma Rachel is continuing her studies at the College on the Postgraduate Extension Studies Course on a part time basis with her teacher Suzanne Murphy.

A flexible and versatile performer, Rachel enjoys performing works from opera, operetta, lieder, Russian song, oratorio/sacred music and musical theatre. Recent performances have included a concert of “opera scenes” and religious music in Umbria, Italy with Handmade Opera, a solo recital at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, as part of the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the role of “Mabel” in Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta The Pirates of Penzance at the Neptune Theatre, Liverpool, the role of "Aline" in The Sorcerer at Southport Arts Centre and Rufford Old Hall for the National Trust and a solo performance at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with the National Festival Orchestra for Sing Live UK. Rachel is also a member of the City of Manchester Opera.

Forthcoming performances include a recital with vocal group "Sounds Classical" at the Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead and an appearance on BBC Radio Merseyside's popular weekly broadcast "United in Song".

Rachel was a prize-winner and finalist at the 2003 Young International Singer Competition at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and has recently been nominated for a Best Actress Award for her role as "Patience" in 2004 by the National Operatic and Dramatic Association.