Charlotte Thomson is a Soprano from Cumbria. She’s recently completed her studies for a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal studies and Opera at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Sarah Rhodes.
Charlotte was awarded second prize in Cumbria’s Young Musician of the year in 2024, and also in the same year won the Bowman Scholarship for the most promising young singer and first prize in the Oratorio class at the Carlisle Music Festival.
In January, she toured internationally with the German National Youth Orchestra (Bundesjungendorchester), performing in sell-out concerts in prestigious venues around Europe. Her most recent performances include being in the chorus of Chabrier’s L’étoile (RNCM) and performing the role of Eleonora in scenes taken from Wolf Ferrari’s Le Donne Curiose (RNCM). She was fortunate to be a chorus member in the premiere of Hartley’s opera Kings, Witches, Lovers and Souls: A compass of Cumbrian legends in 2024. Charlotte is very excited to be joining the chorus of Mozarts’ Le Nozze de Figaro and, covering the principal role of the Governess in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw (Cumbria Opera Group) this summer.
Alongside performing, Charlotte also has a passion for teaching and music in the community. This year, she led a series of singing workshops in a primary school in a deprived area in Greater Manchester around the theme of inclusivity and togetherness, the workshops resulted in a showcase of the children’s work for their friends and family. She hopes to continue these workshops in more schools around the country. She has also been a part the Children’s Opera Project throughout her four years of study at the RNCM; a project supporting the accessibility of music in primary schools in Greater Manchester. Charlotte is looking forward to becoming a singing mentor in an upcoming project with Cumbria Youth Orchestra.
Charlotte’s training began in choral music having being in Cathedral Choirs for 10 years. In May 2013, she was offered a hard-earned Choristership only 3 months after joining the Carlisle Cathedral choir. She then went on to hold the positions of Senior Head Chorister, coaching the younger members of the choir, Junior Choral Scholar and then a member of their Consort Choir.
With Carlisle Cathedral, Charlotte sang in other Cathedrals and churches and at many high-profile events, concerts, weddings and has also had appearances on TV and radio. She toured internationally to Latvia where she performed each night in sell-out concerts at various Latvian churches. Although her passion now lies with opera, Charlotte kept up her love for choral singing through being a member of the St Ann’s church choir in Manchester throughout her studies.
Her previous singing teachers have included Charlotte Jackson, Ann Capstick and Lorna Anderson.
She is very appreciative of her learning experience so far and hopes to productively share that knowledge with younger persons in Cumbria. Charlotte hopes that her professional training coupled with her consistent hard-working attitude and down-to-earth personality will aid her progression, ultimately leading to a professional singing career in the opera industry.