Amy Holyland
Mezzo-soprano
Originally from South Cumbria, Amy Holyland is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s opera course, studying with John Evans. She is also a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the University of Manchester.
Previously: Daughter 5 Akhnaten, Wellgunde The Rhinegold (Cover); Brigitta The Dead City (Cover).
Upcoming for ENO: The Magic Flute
At ENO we are committed to nurturing talent for the future of opera. Our Harewood Artists programme enables exceptionally talented British and British-trained singers, like Amy, to perform with a major opera company while receiving specialist coaching, support and guidance for 2-3 years.
Career Highlights
For Glyndebourne’s 2022 Festival Amy performed the role of a woman in Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias, covered the role of Bradamante in Handel’s Alcina and performed in the choruses of La bohème, Don Pasquale, The Wreckers and Les Mamelles de Tirésias. Amy was the joint recipient of Glyndebourne’s John Christie Award 2022.
In the autumn of 2023 Amy will cover the role of Cherubino in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro on tour with Glyndebourne.
Amy is passionate about opera, oratorio and recital repertoire. Recent operatic performances at the Guildhall School include, Veronique in Le Docteur Miracle, Armelinde in Viardot’s Cendrillon, Pompea in The Little Green Swallow and Lucretia in The Rape of Lucretia, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Idamante in Idomeneo, Carmen in Carmen, Leonora in La Favorita and Amore in L’incoronazione di Poppea in scenes.
She also performed the role of Hansel in British Youth Opera’s production of Hansel and Gretel at Opera Holland Park, in collaboration with Silent Opera. Whilst completing her postgraduate study at the Royal Academy of Music, Amy performed the role of Dritte Dame in Die Zauberflöte with Royal Academy Opera.
Amy has performed on oratorio and concert platforms around the country. This varied repertoire includes Elgar’s The Music Makers, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, Durufle’s Requiem, Bach’s Mass in B minor and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. During her time at the Royal Academy of Music she performed regularly as a member of the Song Circle and as a soloist within the “Bach the European” concert series with conductors John Butt & Masaaki Suzuki.
Recent awards include Glyndebourne’s John Christie Award 2022, a DipRAM for an outstanding final Master’s recital at the Royal Academy of Music, highly commended in the Isabel Jay Memorial Prize in 2019 and very highly commended in the Royal Academy’s Bicentenary Award at the Wigmore Hall in February 2020.
Prior to moving to London to pursue her operatic studies, Amy was a Head of Music in North Yorkshire and remains passionate about teaching and inspiring young musicians.
Previous operatic highlights include: Veronique Le Docteur Miracle, Armelinde in Viardot’s Cendrillon, Donnain Judith Weir’s Miss Fortune (GSMD) and Hansel Hansel and Gretel (BYO/Opera Holland Park).
Last updated: 7th November 2023