Operatic roles include ‘Rusalka’ (Rusalka), ‘Countess Almaviva’ (le nozze di Figaro), ‘Marguerite’ (Faust), ‘Marěnka’ (The Bartered Bride), ‘Leïla’ (les Pêcheurs de Perles),‘Female Chorus’ (The Rape of Lucretia), ‘Concepçion’ (L’heure Espagnole) in collaboration with the RSAMD and the orchestra of Scottish Opera, and ‘Donna Elvira’ (Don Giovanni, RSAMD). She also toured in 2010 with Opera on a Shoestring, in their production of Espagna, as well as with Scottish Opera in La Bohème. In 2011, Michelle performed ‘siren’ (Tannhaüser) in a concert performance with Northern Wagner Orchestra. Chorus work includes la Bohème, Cavelleria Rusticana and il Pagliacci, The flying Dutchman, and Turandot with Scottish Opera.
Born in Lancashire, soprano Michelle Foster studied with Jane Irwin and Patricia MacMahon at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire's Alexander Gibson Opera Studio. She graduated with a first class honours degree in 2003, and completed a Master of Music performance in 2004. During her studies, Michelle was awarded scholarships from The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, The Musicians’ Benevolent Fund, The Ruby and Will George Trust and The Mary Garden Scholarship Fund, as well as a travelling scholarship to Canada from the Canadian Scottish Philharmonic Foundation. The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, The Leverhulme Trust, The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust and the South Square Trust also generously supported Michelle’s studies.
Public recitals have led Michelle to perform widely across the UK and abroad. Engagements include performances at this year’s Ryder Cup gala at the SECC, Gleneagles for Scotland International, Mahler’s Rückert Lieder in Toronto (Canada), Mahler’s 4th Symphony at the RSAMD under James Lowe and Britten’s les illuminations with Edinburgh University String Orchestra. Michelle has also performed in recital with Sir Thomas Allen, Patricia MacMahon, Lisa Milne, Peter Wilson Sir Willard White and Malcolm Martineau, and has sung at Glasgow’s West End Festival with Graeme McNaught. She has also given recitals for Scottish Executive, Channel Four, the Conservatorio di Monopoli (Italy), and House for an Art Lover. Michelle is also in demand as an Oratorio performer; she has sung at York Minster with the York Music Society in Handel’s Israel in Egypt, Handel’s Messiah in Manchester with Richard Lea, Elgar’s Coronation Ode and Mozart’s Coronation Mass in Glasgow under Ben Parry, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonnelle for HHCOS at Aberdeen’s Music Hall with David Jones, Haydn’s Nelson Mass with The Kelvin Choir, and many performances of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem throughout Scotland, including a performance with the BBC Scotland's ‘scratch’ orchestra.
Michelle’s career as a recitalist has also brought opportunities to perform throughout Europe and Canada in recitals for the Schubert Society of Germany, The Canadian Scottish Philharmonic Foundation, and for ‘Tafelmusik’ in Toronto. Michelle also sang in recital with Malcolm Martineau in Edinburgh, in aid of the Mary Garden scholarship award. She made her debut at the Wigmore hall in 2007, as a semi finalist in the Kathleen Ferrier Awards, and was a semi finalist in 2005’s prestigious YCAT selection in London. Michelle has also performed for the Royal Overseas League in Edinburgh, at the Glasgow Summerfest in a recital of Strauss Lieder with Jane Irwin and Nico de Villiers, in recital with Graeme McNaught performing Schoenberg and Berg Lieder, as well as recording soundtrack music for the BBC documentary Galapagos. Michelle performed Berg’s Sieben Frühe Lieder with Julia Lynch for Tickhill Music Society, at Pollok House with Patrick Hemmerlé, and for the Schubert society in Koblenz, as well as being selected as a Featured Artist for Making Music’s Concert Promoter’s Network.
