Catherine wyn rogers biography of michael jackson

Who was your biggest inspiration when you were starting your career?

It has got to be Dame Janet Baker. She was in full flight both before and during my studies at RCM (Royal College of Music), and I had watched her perform in Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius on TV and also in a recital in Nottingham before I came to college.

I was entranced by what she did with repertoire, and by her commitment to text, and looked up to her as the definitive mezzo. I was also heavily inspired and encouraged by my teacher at RCM, Meriel St Clair, whom I was desperately hoping I would be given as my principal teacher before I arrived at college.

My dream became reality as I was lucky enough to be assigned to her by Sir David Willcocks (director of RCM at that time), after my audition at RCM. Although Meriel never took on a singer she hadn’t heard in person, after David had heard me sing in my audition he gave me a scholarship and asked Meriel to teach me – and for me it was the perfect match.

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