Sarah Gilford

Sarah Gilford is a British soprano studying at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Lillian Watson and Jonathan Papp. Previously she graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with a First Class BMus (Hons) Degree having studied with Deborah Rees.

Sarah was born in Cardiff and began her vocal training at the age of nine. Music being central to the culture in Wales, provided a variety of performing opportunities in concerts, competitions and Eisteddfods. Sarah’s hard work and dedication has always been noticed and acknowledged receiving awards such as the South Glamorgan Festival for Young Musicians Best Overall Vocal Performance Award (2010), The Richard Fice Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music (2010), the Freckleton and Doherty Cup for Singing (2013), Bessie Cronshaw/Frost Brownson Song Cycle Prize and SGFYM Young Adult Recital Prize (2015).  the Amanda Roocroft Award (2015), The Maida Jones Award (2017). Most recently, Sarah won the W. Towyn Roberts Scholarship at the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol 2017.

As a chosen singer for RAM Song Circle and the Josephine Baker Trust, Sarah performs frequently in Oratorios, concerts and recitals all across the UK. She is also a regular guest soloist for Welsh Male Voice Choir concerts.

Sarah has worked with Welsh National Youth Opera, RNCM Opera, Northern Opera Group, Brasil Academia de Opera Barroca, Woodhouse Opera and Edinburgh Studio Opera. Her roles have included Johanna in Sweeney Todd,  Jennie in Street Scene, Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte, Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, Alison in The Wandering Scholar, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro and a UK and South American premiere as Cleopatra in Hasse’s Marc’Antonio e Cleopatra. Last summer Sarah made her debut performance with Longborough Festival Opera as Papagena in The Magic Flute.

Later this year Sarah will be competing in The Welsh Singers Showcase 2018 for the chance to represent Wales in Cardiff Singer of the World 2019.