The Royal College of Music Creative Careers Connect presents
Building A Portfolio Career
Hosted by Diana Roberts
Speakers
Lizzie Holmes soprano & founder of DEBUT
with
David Fearn tenor, actor and drag artist (DEBUT/Drag)
Sam Peña DEBUT’s Resident Pianist Improviser
Are you an emerging classical musician looking to build your portfolio career and develop your artistry?
Learn how with RCM graduate Lizzie Holmes, founder of DEBUT, as she introduces the company's mission to throw open the doors to classical music; shares branding tips on how to cultivate new and younger audiences; and shines a light on her own portfolio career as a soprano and business leader.
The talk will focus on some of DEBUT's most exciting recent projects including DEBUT/Drag with tenor, actor and drag artist, RCM graduate David Fearn; and DEBUT's new artist development programme Horizon Project with DEBUT's resident pianist improviser Sam Peña.
There will also be the chance to ask questions about DEBUT's Horizon Project which is open for applications from emerging classical singers and instrumentalists until 10 February 2022. This artist development programme provides opportunities for training, performance and digital content. See the attached flyer for more details about the Horizon Project.
Lizzie Holmes
Soprano & Founder of DEBUT (RCM graduate)
British soprano Lizzie Holmes is a versatile and dynamic singing actor and keen spokesperson for classical music. She has performed across the UK’s top concert halls and on the West End in the Olivier Award nominated La Bohème and The Phantom of the Opera. Recognised for her ‘luminous singing and sensitive acting’ (The Spectator), Lizzie’s operatic roles include Despina, Musetta, Queen of the Night, Cunegonde and Euridice with companies including Grange Park Opera, Longborough Festival Opera and Wexford Festival Opera. Recently Lizzie made her Royal Opera House Crush Room recital debut and was headline soloist with Raymond Gubbay’s Johann Strauss Gala. A graduate of the Royal College of Music, Lizzie has given recitals at the Royal Albert Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields and joined the Bands of the Household Division as soprano soloist at Cadogan Hall. Lizzie has also recorded for Military Wives (Lionsgate) and filmed for The Great (Channel 4) and The Crown (Netflix).
Lizzie founded DEBUT in 2015 and returns to the RCM as Guest Lecturer on Creative Enterprise, she has subsequently been interviewed by Classical Music Magazine, BBC Radio 3’s In Tune and Opera Now. In 2021 she was awarded a Genesis Foundation Kickstart grant for DEBUT’s first artist development programme, Horizon Project 2022.
David Fearn
Tenor, Actor & Drag Artist (RCM graduate)
David Fearn is currently in rehearsals for Bridgerton with Secret Cinema. As a performer David’s varied career includes performances with the London Musical Theatre Orchestra (A Christmas Carol and Candide), working around the world as Guest Entertainer for cruise ships and workshopping Between Worlds with the English National Opera. He is a graduate of the Royal College of Music and Guildford School of Acting where he studied Musical Theatre.
Miss Davida Loca, David’s drag persona, first appeared in a sold out self produced cabaret show at Shoreditch Treehouse complete with a supporting cast of West End guest stars. Since then David has joined with DEBUT to create DEBUT/Drag, a groundbreaking new show bringing together the worlds of opera and drag. Initially developed as part of SANCTUARY at Lighthouse, Poole in 2021, the show will tour nationally in 2023. Miss Davida combines David’s talents as an experienced classically trained/musical theatre vocalist with a flair for hosting and comedy/satirical writing.
Sam Peña
Pianist Improviser (GSMD graduate)
Spanish pianist Sam Peña occupies a space where classical meets pop, folk and film music through his extraordinary talent as an improviser. He is one of the first musicians to have a Masters Course at Conservatoire level specially created for him, a ‘Piano Masters in Interpretation and Improvisation’ at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, bringing together his skills in jazz, composition and classical. Graduating with Distinction in 2019, he spent the following year as a Fellow with the Composition Department.
During lockdown Sam composed One Shoe of Each Colour, a musical all about his journey as a trans man. Championed by GSMD as a musical having ‘all the ingredients to be the next hit’ the piece is garnering much interest and is due to be released later in the year. During this time Sam also featured as part of Yamaha’s ‘Live From Home’ Europe wide Live Stream series.
Since 2018 Sam has been resident pianist for DEBUT at Shoreditch Treehouse. His journey with the company was one of the inspirations behind DEBUT’s 2022 artist development programme, Horizon Project.
DEBUT
DEBUT throws open the doors to classical music, showcasing exceptionally talented musicians in unique and unforgettable venues, presented with spontaneity and warmth. Since launching in 2015, we’ve showcased over 180 singers and instrumentalists and reached audiences of all ages from around the world. In addition to our flagship classical music experience DEBUT at Shoreditch Treehouse (No.1 Airbnb Music Experience Globally 2018) we have enjoyed sharing our unique and friendly approach to concerts in London at the Royal Opera House, Cutty Sark, Brunel Museum’s Thames Tunnel Shaft, Old Operating Theatre, Old Bayham Abbey with Lamberhurst Music Festival and in Dorset at Poole’s Lighthouse, Chettle House and Russell-Coates Museum.
In 2021 we embarked on a new project, DEBUT/Drag bringing together the worlds of opera and drag, with an Artists’ Residency at The Lighthouse, Poole and were awarded a Genesis Foundation Kickstart Grant for our Horizon Project 2022. We are particularly passionate about showcasing emerging musicians and helping to develop their unique voice as professional artists, cultivating a positive classical music community and sharing classical music with new audiences.