Ciara Hendrick - Mezzo Soprano
Ciara joined opera studio of Strasbourg opera in 2007, spending a year in France before returning to England to join the Glyndebourne Chorus. As a member of the young artist’s programme she took the lead role of Lazuli in Chabrier’s L’Étoile as well as singing the roles of Carmen, Cherubino, Charlotte, Rosina (Rossini) and Hermia.
Ciara sang the role of Mrs Grose in Britten’s Turn of the Screw with l’Orchestre de basse Normandie at the Festival of Caen last year and at the celebrations of European Day at the French Senat.
Before moving to France, Ciara studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating with distinction and laureate of the Dorothy Whyte Memorial Fund. During her time there she reached the final of the Gold Medal Competition and won the Lord Mayor’s Prize.
Equally at home on the concert platform, Ciara worked with Graham Johnson as a member of the Young Songmakers Almanac in 2007 and performs regularly in oratorio throughout England and France, most recently Handel’s Saul at St James’ Piccadilly with members of the OAE, Mozart’s Vesperae solennes with the London Mozart Players, Bach’s Easter Oratorio with Le Salon de Musique, Belfort, and Bach’s Magnificat at St Martin in the Fields.
Future plans include Mozart’s Requiem & Dido’s Lament at St Martin in the Fields, the role of Annio in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito in London and Couperin's Leçons de ténèbre in Thame, Oxfordshire. In summer 2010, Ciara will be covering the role of Hermia in Garsington Opera's production of Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream and in Autumn 2010 she will be performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Academy of Ancient Music.
"Ciara Hendrick, one to watch for singing and acting the socks off a minor role."
Opera Now
(The Yellow Sofa, Glyndebourne Festival 2009)