Pegasus Opera Company have announced the names of twelve singers who are taking part in its trailblazing 25/26 opera mentoring programme, which offers aspiring and emerging artists of global majority heritage a bespoke programme of coaching and mentoring opportunities. The programme was set up in 2020 to hone the skills of and build the confidence of classical singers from diverse backgrounds.
The twelve singers will receive individual coaching sessions and mentoring from world-class global majority opera singers, including sopranos Maureen Brathwaite and Alison Buchanan; and bass Jonathan Lemalu.
The singers selected for the 25/26 cohort are:
- Kristina Ammattil, Soprano
- Claudia Chin Haussmann, Soprano
- Andrea Manuel, Soprano
- Danielle Kamilah, Soprano
- Valerie Wong, Soprano
- Marie Cayeux, Soprano
- Bonnie Liu, Mezzo soprano
- Elizabeth Mwale, Mezzo-soprano
- Rachael Best-Babayeju, Mezzo-soprano
- Tylor Lamani, Tenor
- Brennan Alleyne, Tenor
- Simon Mascarenhas Carter, Tenor
Glyndebourne has partnered with Pegasus, supporting four singers for the past four years. The Glyndebourne mentees this year are Marie Cayeux, Bonnie Liu, Elizabeth Mwale and Tylor Lamani.
The participants mentored by Glyndebourne have a unique, bespoke experience and are given opportunities to observe rehearsals and shadow established artists at the 2025 Glyndebourne Festival, and receive opportunities to perform for key artistic staff with feedback to aid their development. They are also introduced to other departments at Glyndebourne to gain insight into the full range of career opportunities in opera. Representatives from Glyndebourne attend Pegasus Opera auditions and showcases to help spot emerging talent who can be encouraged to audition for the Glyndebourne Chorus, a proven launchpad for a professional career in opera.
The other eight mentees are sponsored by Pegasus and Laidlaw Opera Trust. These mentees will be offered masterclasses with Alison Buchanan and other industry leading performers, as well as opportunities to attend opera productions and receive input and feedback from industry leaders, including agents, communication specialists and dramaturges.
Additionally, Laidlaw Opera Trust is enabling Pegasus to offer more targeted support to help all current and previous participants to overcome the significant challenges faced by them as they build their careers, and tracking the long-term success of the programme.
Alison Buchanan, artistic director of Pegasus Opera Company, said: “As we launch our fifth year of the Pegasus mentorship with our Pegasus and Glyndebourne Scholars, I reflect on the tremendous impact this relationship has had on our singers, how important it is and how it hones them, inspires them and is a game changer in their development. I am excited for this next year. Glyndebourne holds a special place in my heart, it is where I got my start as a singer and love that this partnership not only continues, but flourishes. Additionally, through the support of the Laidlaw Opera Trust, the programme continues to grow and develop and afford our wonderful young artists an opportunity to hone their skills, be mentored by and have masterclasses with world class artists, to gain career advice and get performance opportunities in a bespoke way. What makes me most proud is to see our mentees blossom during the scheme, to watch them as they become more confident, improve vocally and leave the year-long programme empowered to enter an industry that has excluded them in the past…. I am proud that they have trusted us to be part of their journey.”
Stephen Langridge, Artistic Director of Glyndebourne, said: “Our relationship with Pegasus Opera is incredibly valuable, developing more each year as we learn from and support each other. The feedback that we get from the mentees is helping shape the programme for future participants, and the wider partnership is supporting our commitment to a fully inclusive and diverse workplace culture both on and off the stage.
Kate Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of the Laidlaw Trust, said: “We at Laidlaw Opera Trust are proud to support Pegasus Opera Company, and the continued development of its mentorship programme. Giving this extraordinary opportunity to talented artists who may otherwise feel excluded from opera is vital for bringing in new voices, keeping the art form relevant and refreshed. We are thrilled that LOT’s donation enables the team at Pegasus to give ongoing support to graduates of the scheme and follow the mentees’ career pathways.”
About Pegasus Opera Company
Pegasus is a professional opera company with a family of widespread international artists, participants and supporters. We produce high-quality performances and balance this with a focus on artist development, with an eye to promoting the talents of emerging artists of global majority heritage and bringing this onto eminent platforms of note and significance.
For 30 years, Pegasus Opera Company has been the home for singers, composers, instrumentalists and directors predominantly, but not exclusively, from diverse global majority backgrounds.
Established in south London and grown from solid and credible roots, we still work out of our home in Brixton. The Company has held true to our founder Lloyd Newton’s credo of ‘harmony in diversity’. We have inspired many to love opera; and we celebrate the music of rich African, Asian and Caribbean diasporas whilst weaving this into the fabric of the British performing arts, using creativity to challenge and advocate for positive change.
Previous cohort (24/25) L to R: Yumeng Cui, Lynda Nwabudike, Melvin Claridge (Talent Director at Pegasus), Tia Radix-Callixte, Waiyin Lee (Pianist), Danielle de Niese (Soprano and Pegasus Patron), Bernadine Pritchett, Julian Chou-Lambert, Anusha Merrin.
Pegasus Opera Company Contact
Melvin Claridge (Talent Director) – melvin@pegasusoperacompany.org
Antonia Thwaites (Programme Administrator) – antonia@pegasusoperacompany.org
