Samling Artist Programme Masterclass - Summer

About the Masterclass

For thirty years, the Samling Artist Programme has been at the beginning of extraordinary careers in song and opera. At this unique public masterclass, you’ll see the stars of the future discovering what it takes to make it to the very top, with help from two musicians who themselves enjoy major international careers – Italian soprano Barbara Frittoli and British pianist Roger Vignoles. Shakespearean actor James Garnon completes the team, showing musicians how theatre techniques can enhance their performance. The Samling Artist Programme is a life-changing gift for young artists who have the talent, dedication and potential to succeed at the highest level. The six singers and two pianists who you’ll meet in this up-close and intimate afternoon have spent an intensive residential week with us, delving deep into every aspect of their craft and this masterclass gives you a flavour of how great performances are made.

Barbara Frittoli

Event Timing

2 – 5.15pm Six twenty-minute masterclasses, with a 30-minute interval, doors will open at 1.30pm. Ticket includes tea and cake with the artists and leaders served during the interval.

Return transport from Berwick-upon-Tweed station is available at an additional charge and can be booked with your ticket. This will leave from Berwick station at 12.50 pm and the return service connects with trains leaving Berwick after 6pm.

Barbara Frittoli and James Garnon: Samling Artist Programme

Previous Samling Artist Programme masterclasses

Photo credit - Mark Pinder

The Samling Artists

Bella Marslen soprano

Maryam Wocial soprano

Katrīna Paula Felsberga soprano

Sian Sulke mezzo-soprano

Will Prior countertenor

David Kennedy baritone

Archie Bonham piano

Yihan Zhao piano

With staff pianist Samling Artist Jo Ramadan

The Leaders

Barbara Frittoli, soprano

Barbara Frittoli is one of the world’s leading operatic sopranos, enjoying amajor international career. Her roles include Contessa Le nozze di Figaro, Liù Turandot, Desdemona Otello, Alice Falstaff and Mimì La bohème, and she has performed regularly at The Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Alla Scala, Opéra National de Paris, Vienna Staatsoper and Royal Opera House. She sang the role of Liù in the famous performance of ‘Turandot in the Forbidden City’ with Zubin Mehta and was the soprano soloist on a Grammy-award winning performance of Verdi’s Requiem with Riccardo Muti. Other conductors she has worked with include Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir Antonio Pappano, Semyon Bychkov and Riccardo Chailly.

Roger Vignoles, pianist

Roger Vignoles is one of the most distinguished piano accompanists of our time. In a career spanning five decades he has become recognized throughout the world as a leading exponent of the art of song. He has appeared at principal venues and festivals across the globe, performing and recording with many of the world’s foremost artists. While continuing his busy playing career, he is deeply committed to working with and coaching younger singers and pianists. He gives frequent masterclasses and workshops including at Britten-Pears Young Artists' Programme, Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music and the Tanglewood Music Center. He is an Honorary fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge and Prince Consort Professor of Accompaniment at the Royal College of Music.

James Garnon

Increasingly in demand across the UK and Europe, Ian Tindale has partnered singers at Wigmore Hall, Palau de la Música and Het Concertgebouw. Recent highlights include recitals from the Hay Festival with Soraya Mafi and the Edinburgh International Festival with Samling Artist Nick Pritchard, both broadcast on BBC Radio 3. In 2024 he released his debut recital disc of Schubert songs with Samling Artist Harriet Burns. He is the founding Artistic Director of Shipston Song, the UK’s newest song festival.

Jo Ramadan, Samling Artist staff pianist

Jo Ramadan began his music studies as a chorister at Chapel Royal St James’s Palace. After graduating from Durham University, he studied at the Royal College of Music with John Blakely and Roger Vignoles. He is currently an associate artist as Assistant Conductor and pianist with The Mozartists. This season he has been engaged at Royal Ballet and Opera as organist and off-stage conductor for Turandot and Peter Grimes. He is Director of Music at St Vedast Foster Lane, accompanist and Professor of Vocal Repertoire and Assistant Conductor in the International Opera Studio at the Royal College of Music and conductor, coach and accompanist at Oxenfoord International Summer School.

About Samling Institute

Samling Institute for Young Artists Northumberland-based Samling Institute for Young Artists is widely recognised as a leading global authority in the training of young voices. Since 1996, the charity has nurtured and inspired many hundreds of young singers and pianists setting them on the road to success through programmes led by world-renowned opera singers, conductors, song specialists, accompanists, coaches and actors.

Samling Artist Programme provides intensive residential masterclass weeks, performance and professional development opportunities to early-career singers and piano accompanists. It offers a crucial bridge at what for many can be a difficult and insecure period between formal education and professional life. There are now over 430 Samling Artists, from 50 countries, many of whom have subsequently forged impressive international careers. Frequently Samling Artists say that this programme is often the most enduring, formative and transformative training they have received.

Good to Know:

Dogs are not permitted during tours or concerts other than registered Guide Dogs.

Our cancellation policy is 14 days in advance.

We will happily offer a refund or a credit for a later date before then.

Should we cancel the event for any reason you will receive a complete refund.