Margaret Cooper, soprano
biographical details

Margaret was born in London in 1982 and brought up in Oxford. She is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she studied as a scholarship student with Susan McCulloch. She completed first her BMus degree and then her Masters degree and then began training with Raymond Connell.

Margaret is currently studying with Yvonne Kenny. Her operatic roles include Mimi La Boheme, Donna Anna Don Giovanni, Adina L'Elisir D'Amore, Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro Dido Dido and Aeneas, Poppea L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Mercedes Carmen and Catherine (Offenbach's operetta) Pomme D'Api. She has performed female leads for the British premieres of Mendelssohn's Camacho's Wedding (Quiteria) and Lalo's Fiesque (Leonore) both with UCO at the Bloomsbury Theatre and the world premiere of Ita Vivam (Mistress) by Christina Athinodorou . Solo experience includes the Bach Magnificat, Bach St John Passion, Beethoven Choral Symphony, Brahms Requiem, Gounod St Cecilia's Mass, Handel Messiah, Handel Dixit Dominus, Haydn Creation, Mozart C Minor Mass, Mozart Requiem, Mozart Solemn Vespers, Orff Carmina Burana, Pergolese's Salve Regina andRossini Missa Solemnis.

Margaret is frequently asked to do solo recitals in the UK and abroad. She performs regularly in France with a French opera company and at various music festivals around France. She has given recitals in Europe's oldest concert hall, the Holywell Music Room, Oxford. She toured the south of England with Sarah Ings, saxophonist with 'Across England to the Latin Quarter' managed by Musicians Inc. and performed at St Paul's Cathedral as part of their 'Costing the Earth?' series. Most recently she gave a concert with soprano Marilena Solomou at Kastelliotissa, Nicosia Cyprus.

Margaret has participated in masterclasses with Sally Burgess, Dame Rosalind Plowright, Jeremy Silver, Carlos Fernandez Aransey, Susan Gorton, Sarah Walker, Meribeth Dame, Emma Kirkby and Graham Johnson. Margaret has received the Compton Bach award, second prize for the English song competition and second prize for the Angle-Czech Trust competition. She has regular engagements with 'Opera on the Run' and First Act Opera International and performs for the Live Music Now! scheme founded by Yehudi Menuhin.