A retreat for opera singers who have given birth
OrchestrasThis seems really worthwhile:
Applications are open for the 2025 SWAP’ra Retreat at Snape Maltings, in partnership with Britten Pears Arts.
The SWAP’ra Retreat is a fully-funded, 5-day residential course providing intensive support, training, and skills development for parents who have recently given birth and are facing barriers to a returning to work as an opera singer.
Retreat dates: 3-7 March 2025
Application deadline: 5pm on 25 October 2024
Facilitators include Olivia Fuchs, Gillian Ramm, Hannah Sandison and Kate Valentine
For more information and to apply:
https://www.swap-ra.org/swapra-bpa-retreat
To hear from participants and facilitators from the SWAP’ra Retreat at Glyndebourne in 2023, have a look here:
https://www.swap-ra.org/swapra-glyndebourne-retreat
Excellent initiative. I wish more opera singers would have babies, it would bring an added dimension to their interpretations.
I remember Marion Studholme telling me how she used to leave her baby in a bassinet at the Inspizientenpult. Think how much more a soprano could bring to Suor Angelica if she were already a mother, for example.