Jerwood Young Artists

Ellie Laugharne Soprano

Ellie Laugharne studied on the Opera Course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she was generously supported by the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, the Music Students’ Hostel Trust, the John Wates Charitable Trust and Serena Fenwick.  She began her vocal training at the Birmingham Conservatoire having previously completed a music degree at Birmingham University.

She has since sung the Title Role/Euridice (Peri orch. Oliver) for BYO, Edna/Tobias and the Angel (Dove) at the Buxton Operatic Festival and Pamina/Die Zauberflöte whilst at University. She has also performed a variety of roles in scenes at GSMD and with BYO including Sophie/Werther, Sophie/Der Rosenkavalier, Frasquita/Carmen, Morgana/Alcina, Nannetta/Falstaff and Marzelline/Fidelio.

Ellie won the 2011 Musicians' Benevolent Fund Maggie Teyte Prize and Miriam Licette Scholarship and performed a recital in the Crush Room at the Royal Opera House. She has also performed a number of concerts at the last two Ryedale Festivals (accompanied by Christopher Glynn).

Recent engagements include Susanna/Le nozze di Figaro for BYO, Anna Reich/Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor and Tytania/A Midsummer Night's Dream both for GSMD, a pre-LSO recital at the Barbican Hall, a concert with pianist John Reid at King's Place in London, First Bridesmaid/Le nozze di Figaro and cover soprano, Juno/The Fairy Queen for GFO.  As a Glyndebourne Jerwood Young Artist Ellie took part in the Ebert Room recitals and a lunchtime recital in the 2012 Brighton Festival.

Future plans include Mabel/The Pirates of Penzance for Scottish Opera and Sandrina/La Finta Giardiniera for the Buxton Festival.

Ellie is singing Barbarina/Le nozze di Figaro for GT as well as a few performances as Susanna.

Gavan Ring Baritone

Irish baritone Gavan Ring studied at the Schola Cantorum before reading Education and Music at St. Patrick's College in Dublin and later at the Royal Irish Academy of Music where he is currently completing doctoral studies.

A Bank of Ireland Millennium Scholar and multiple prize-winner, Gavan was also the winner of the inaugural National Concert Hall Bernadette Greevy Bursary and the Cuisine de France John McCormack Bursary 2011. Gavan was also awarded the Briscoe Cup for Outstanding Student of the Year at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

An alumnus Young Associate Artist with Opera Theatre Company, Gavan has performed with Wexford Festival Opera, Scottish Opera, Northern Ireland Opera, Opera Ireland, Lyric Opera Productions and Banff Opera Festival Canada.  Operatic credits include Polyphemus/Acis and Galatea, Colas/Bastien and Bastienna, Nardo/La finta giardiniera, Masetto/Don Giovanni, Guglielmo/Cosi fan tutte, Pluto/Orpheus in the Underworld, The Regent/The Sleeping Queen, The Judge/Trial by Jury, Giuseppe/The Gondoliers, Le Dancaïre/Carmen, Eisenstein/Die Fledermaus, Cascada/The Merry Widow, Benoït/Alcindoro/La bohème, Marcello/La bohème, Yamadori/Madama Butterfly, Gideon March/Little Women. 

For GFO 2012 he covered Marcello and sang Phoebus in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen.  As a Glyndebourne Jerwood Young Artist Gavan took part in the Ebert Room recitals and a lunchtime recital in the 2012 Brighton Festival.

Szymon Wach Bass-baritone

Szymon Wach graduated with a Bachelor Degree in 2010 from the Opera Department of Karol Lipinski Academy of  Music in Wrocław.  Since September 2011 he has been studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.  He will continue his opera studies there, under  Rudolf Piernay's supervision from September 2012.

In 2008 he was awarded the Public Prize in the Bel Canto Opera Competition in Naleczow, Poland.  He was the finalist and received a Special Prize in Halina Halska Fijalkowska Opera International Competition in 2009 in Poland.

He has appeared in concerts and recitals both in London and in Poland, including the Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz, Wroclaw Opera.

Roles performed during his opera studies include Il Commendatore/Don Giovanni,  Germano /La scala di seta, Old Gypsy man/Aleko,  Gesu/Gesu ale Calvario, Herr Reich/Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, bass arias/St Matthew Passion and  solo bass/Mozart C Minor Mass.

He was a member of the 2012 GFO Chorus and covered the role of Customs Sergeant/La boheme.  As a Glyndebourne Jerwood Young Artist Symon took part in the Ebert Room recitals and a lunchtime recital in the 2012 Brighton Festival.

The Jerwood Chorus development scheme

Since 2005 Glyndebourne has been able to increase its investment in developing young talent with the inauguration of the Jerwood Chorus Development Scheme. This programme has two aims: to provide training opportunities for members of the Glyndebourne Chorus, both as soloists and as members of an ensemble, and to increase performing opportunities for the many aspiring soloists that the Chorus nurtures. The singers work with leading conductors, directors, choreographers, theatre specialists and vocal coaches to enhance their skills and experience. The Scheme has been made possible through the generosity of the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

Find out about the Jerwood Young Artists at the 2012 Festival