Charlotte Thomson is a Soprano from Cumbria, England. She's a recent graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), where she earned a First-Class Honours degree in Music, specialising in Vocal Studies and Opera.
In 2024, Charlotte was awarded second prize in Cumbria's Young Musician of the Year and recieved the Bowman Scholarship at the Carlisle Music Festival, recognising her as the most promising young singer.
Most recently, Charlotte joined the Cumbria Opera Group (COG) as a Young Artist, where she covered her first principal role as the Governess in Britten's The Turn of the Screw and performed in scenes from the opera in the Young Artist Schowcase. She also appeared in the chorus of COG's production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. In 2024, she was fortunate to be a chorus member in the premier of Hartley's opera Kings, Witches, Lovers and Souls: A Compass of Cumbrian Legends.
During her studies, Charlotte performed extensively in opera, concert and choral settings. Highlights include touring internationallt with the German National Youth Orchestra (Bundesjugendorchester), performing in the choruses of Strauss' Die Fledermaus and Chabrier's L'Etoile, and singing in Bernstein's Mass at Manchester's prestigious Bridgewater Hall.
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 focused on the theme of inclusivity and togetherness, culminating in a showcase performance by the pupils. Charlotte was also actively involved in the RNCM’s Children’s Opera Project throughout her four years of study; a project promoting musical accessibility in primary schools across Greater Manchester. She now looks forward to developing new community outreach initiatives in Cumbria in collaboration with the Carlisle Music Hub.
Charlotte’s musical journey began in choral music. After joining the Carlisle Cathedral Choir in 2013, she was awarded a Choristership only three months later. Over the next decade, she served as Senior Head Chorister, Junior Choral Scholar, and later became a member of the Cathedral’s Consort Choir. With the choir, she performed at numerous high-profile services, concerts, weddings, and broadcast appearances, including an international tour to Latvia where she sang to sold-out audiences.
Her vocal training has included studies with Sarah Rhodes, Charlotte Jackson, Ann Capstick, and Lorna Anderson. Grateful for the guidance and opportunities she has received so far, Charlotte hopes to inspire and support young musicians in her home region of Cumbria. She 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.