Megan amazes opera judges
The Bath Opera crowned its third winner of the Isobel Buchanan Award after a young singer brought the house down.
The three-year old competition, held at Bath Spa University’s Michael Tippett Centre, attracted 30 entries in 2018, 40 entries in 2019 and this year there were 61 from whom Megan Strachan was the clear winner.
“At times she reduced us to tears with her ability to open herself fully to whatever she was singing,” said Scottish soprano Isobel Buchanan. “That is something that cannot be taught, and the panel was unanimous in choosing her as this year’s Bath Opera Isobel Buchanan Award (BOIBA) winner.”
Megan, who is studying at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire Strachan in London, sang: Or sai chi l’onore from Mozart’s Don Giovanni; Die Erlkönig by Schubert; and Ain’t it a pretty night? from Susannah by Carlisle Floyd.
“Here was a young singer who sang with fearless attack and assuredness in all of her three pieces. Megan carried us on a journey into the world and atmosphere of each song with strong vocal technique,” she said.
Megan had not initially been selected as a finalist. The judges had selected William Stevens (bass), Nancy Holt (mezzo soprano), Rosamond Thomas (mezzo soprano), Anna Muradyan (soprano) and Joshua Saunders (Italianate tenor) but the sixth person had to withdraw.
Isobel rang Megan to ask her to take part.
Thrilled Megan rang her parents and said: “I am in London and I have just been rung by a top opera singer and invited to compete in Bath tomorrow. Can you pick me up?!”
The runner-up prize of £500 was won by the youngest of all the 61 contestants, Joshua, 21.
“The experience was really wonderful,” said Josh. “The kind and caring energy provided by everyone was refreshing.”