Caroline Challis

About Caroline Challis
Soprano Caroline Challis is currently an undergraduate student in English and Related Literature at the University of York, UK. She started singing at the age of 12 under the direction of Mrs. Clara Roberts, and since then has blossomed into a highly praised soloist. In the 2006 Southend-on-Sea Musical Festival she was awarded The Sally Browne Cup for Girls’ Solo Singing, the Louise & Don Collard Cup and Prize, and the highly coveted Ellen Petchey Memorial Cup for the highest overall score in the singing classes. In the 2007 Leigh-on-Sea Musical Festival she was awarded the Leigh Hall Cup for Girl’s Solo Singing. Passing her Grade 8 with Distinction in Spring 2007, she spent this summer singing at weddings and beginning preparations for her ABRSM Diploma in Performance. Most recently, she gave a solo performance at St. Paul’s (The Actors’ Church), Covent Garden, and was praised for her rich sound and exciting stage presence.
Caroline also enjoys singing in ensemble groups. She has been a member of Southend Young Singers for the last five years, and enjoyed their recent Christmas tour of the city of Reims in the Champagne-Ardennes region of France. She performed as a soloist in the Vringy Church the in the city centre and was highly praised (in more than one language!) The choir gives annual Christmas concerts at St. Martins-in-the-Fields and the Savoy Hotel, where Caroline also gave a solo performance last Christmas. She has performed Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms at the Barbican with the English Schools’ Orchestra and Choir, and has sung with larger choirs at the Purcell Rooms and St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden under Lena Phillips, a professor of the Paris Conservatoire. This year Caroline successfully auditioned for the University of York Chamber Choir, who recently performed a selection of British music in the Chapter House of York Minster. Caroline studies singing under Michael de Costa (former principal baritone of the ENO) at the De Costa Academy in York, and Clare Roberts, conductor of the Southend Young Singers.
Outside of singing, Caroline enjoys painting, writing and fancy dress. She speaks French, Spanish, Latin and Russian as well as a little Welsh and Italian, and is reported to have vowed to learn a new language every year for the rest of her life! She is most at home in the theatre, whether on stage, backstage or working front of house. She also enjoys working as a model for hair salons Toni & Guy, SAKS, and Langwoods in Leigh-on-Sea, (see photos).
Caroline lives in Essex with her parents and three younger brothers.
"There are some lovely warm colours in your sound...An appealing tone quality”.
- Rachel Sherry, adjudicator of the 2007 Leigh on Sea Musical Festival.
“A wonderful performance.”
– Jean Allister, adjudicator of the 2006 Southend-on-Sea Musical Festival.