The opera profession centres on the exacting skills of singers’ voices. The fact that their jobs require them to combine the emotional flexibility of an actor, with the mentality and fitness of an athlete is often ignored. Our repertory ensemble model is unique in the UK and places early career singers at its heart providing a richly supportive environment at the stage when careers are so precarious. Supporting singers at the outset of their careers and developing their extraordinary talent is central to our work at If Opera.

Once the hubbub of conservatoire life has passed, artists are at their prime to explore, develop and showcase their work. We are dedicated to supporting every singer that works with If Opera, be it the ‘nuts and bolts’ of coaching with our music staff, advice about the inner workings of the industry, introductions to agents, audition coaching or simply giving them a platform to shine centre stage.

In 2025, we are working with seventeen singers who have been cast across three productions. Of the seventeen-core company ensemble, five singers have roles in all three operas, and eleven singers have roles in two operas. Two artists are making their debut roles this year: Alexey Gusev who, following on from his memorable portrayal of Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor last year, will sing the title role in Rigoletto, and soprano, Inna Husieva, will sing the role of Gilda. Both have been given the opportunity in keeping with our aim of giving supremely talented singers the chance to make important role debuts.

The impact for any If Opera company member is intended to be long-term, providing a valuable stepping stone in the development of their careers and helping them make invaluable industry connections and to secure employment with other companies.

Each year we offer between five and eight weeks work to our ensemble company who work across all of the productions. Singers learn new repertoire and gain invaluable performance experience with structured coaching and mentoring support. Wellbeing is at the heart of our company and our collegiate approach fosters mutual respect, supports mental health and provides the conditions for artists to thrive and in turn inspire our audiences.

Artists range from recent Conservatoire graduates at the beginning of their careers to more experienced singers, later on in their development, seeking the next step.

If Opera Artistic Director, Oliver Gooch, explains why what we offer to young singers is so important:

“We are dedicated to supporting every singer that works with If Opera, and we strive to offer not only an enticing variety of roles to our ensemble, but also an environment where they can be themselves, say what they really think, and not fear the repercussions of being ill on first night or worry that there is no one to talk to when demands of the job get too much. Your support and dedication to supporting our repertory ensemble will not only help give them financial reassurance but also a sense of place and positive wellbeing to continue to grow and thrive as performing artists in years to come.”

A case in point

In 2015 a young lyric-coloratura soprano, Robyn Allegra Parton, joined our Young Artists Scheme to cover the role of Oscar in Verdi’s Un ballo in Maschera. Fast forward nine years, and we were delighted to welcome Robyn back in 2024 as the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor.

“I was thrilled to debut the challenging and iconic role of Lucia di Lammermoor with a company that already knows me well and prioritises artist development. This allowed me the creative freedom to discover Lucia during the production process - the perfect way to get to know her! As a former young artist with If Opera, I know that opportunities for young artists to transition from education to major roles are essential and hard to come by. If Opera is crucial in providing this support for UK-trained singers.”

Robyn Allegra Parton

Artist feedback

“I felt respected and genuinely valued as part of the company. I was really impressed by the standard of the creative staff, especially the music coaching and would love the chance to work with any or all of them again.”

“I was involved in all three productions. It was amazing working on these three shows, I loved them all and from a professional development perspective, it was fantastic!”

“The general feel of the company is very warm and inviting. I felt immediately at ease, but also well supported by a truly excellent creative team and staff. I felt that all the musical staff and creatives were very well prepared and professional.”

Our Education and Outreach Programme is growing fast - taking opera into schools, where we inspire young people, demystify the art form, and show that opera is for everyone. In a time when music education is being quietly erased from classrooms across the UK, our work is more vital than ever. Music transforms lives. It builds confidence, creativity, and community. It makes young people feel seen, heard, and capable of greatness, and we’ve seen it first hand in our schools workshops.

Since 2010, If Opera has been inspiring school children across Wiltshire and Somerset, providing opportunities for children to work alongside outstanding professional vocal animateurs, singers and musicians. With a proven track record for the quality of its performances, young artists programme and schools’ projects, we want to introduce many more young people to the wonder of opera, and our schools programme is central to this mission.

“This has been a magical experience for our children – how many other primary aged children get the opportunity to work with opera professionals? The growth in our children in only 4 sessions was incredible – particularly our SEND children. To be honest I was quite overwhelmed with what your team achieved with our children.”

Head Teacher, Mere School

In 2025, our Schools Project will create and premiere in-school mini-operas based on The Comet Huntress, as we celebrate the life and career of local scientist, Caroline Herschel. In Georgian Bath, during an era of horses and carts and Bridgerton-style balls and concerts, Caroline Herschel worked as a singer along with her brother the composer William Herschel. But as their musical careers blossomed, they both became more and more interested in space. Together they built a telescope in their house in Bath and gradually became famous for their astronomical discoveries. Caroline Herschel became the first woman to receive a salary as a scientist and the first woman in England to hold a government position, earning her the nickname, The Comet Huntress.

This year we are working with two schools in Wiltshire and two in Somerset to deliver five, half day workshops which will culminate in a 30-minute ‘student and professionals’ performance. Students will work on creating their shows with singing, movement, drama and songwriting, and one prop-making session, to devise an in-schools performance inspired by themes of science, space and female empowerment. We will also introduce space-themed musical works from Holst’s The Planets and If Opera’s 2025 programmed Orpheus in the Underworld.

This year's school projects were devised and led by charismatic soprano and founder director of Celebrate Voice, Lynsey Docherty. Lynsey has been a creative director for arts organisations across the UK, including the Royal Opera House, Grange Festival, and Dorset Opera as Director of Education. She has led all of If Opera’s past projects, joined recently by composer/lyricist Tim Gilvin and tenor Anthony Flaum.

Learning from, working with, and performing alongside professionals, our aim is that pupils will gain confidence from being immersed in the performing arts. They work together in new ways to find means of self-expression, communication and engagement. Our projects aim to promote their imaginations and creativity, whilst immersing them in new music as well as giving them ownership of work they contribute to and create.

THE COMET HUNTRESS

We are delighted to announce that as a background to our schools project this year, we will be working with multi award-winning, Bradford on Avon based composer and lyricist, Tim Gilvin, to commission a new family show based on the life of Caroline Herschal which will premier in our 2026 festival.

If you are interested in supporting this exciting new commission, please get in touch at: info@ifopera.com.

Collaborating with Bluebird Care and the Wiltshire Music Centre on our Afternoon Tea and Opera events for older isolated adults in the community, is one of the highlights of our year.

Led by the wonderful Lynsey Docherty, soprano and animateur, our afternoon concerts have delighted attendees with uplifting performances and shared experiences, leaving guests feeling enriched and connected. Audiences are treated to afternoon tea and cake, while the If Opera ensemble, past and present, perform a selection of popular operatic arias as well as a selection of beloved show tunes.

These community-centred events show how thoughtfully designed musical interaction can spark joy, reduce loneliness, and strengthen wellbeing among older adults. Group music not only supports mind and mood but fosters social connection - combating the “epidemic” of loneliness.

“It was so much fun to be part of and really heartwarming to see so many smiling faces. Some of our dementia patients are almost non-verbal, and it was incredible to see them singing along.”