Martene Grimson - Soprano
Martene Grimson graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2000 before moving to London where she received the Diploma of Advanced Opera at the Royal College of Music’s Benjamin Britten Opera School in 2004. She completed her studies at the National Opera Studio in 2005, supported by the Royal Opera House.
Martene’s prizes include second prize at the Kathleen Ferrier Awards 2006, Maggie Teyte Prize and Miriam Licette Scholarship in 2004. She was a finalist in Placido Domingo’s Operalia competition 2005. Other awards obtained while studying include Australian Music Foundation, Tait Memorial Trust, Madeline Finden Award, Wingate Scholarship and Countess of Munster Award.
Recent engagements include Ilia (Idomeneo) for Pinchgut Opera in Sydney, Glauce in Cherubini’s Medea for National Reisopera and 1st Witch (Dido and Aeneas) for Opera North. Brahms Requiem under Sir David Wilcocks at the Albert Hall, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel with the BBC Concert Orchestra under Charles Hazelwood and Laurette in Bizet’s Le Docteur Miracle for Wexford Festival. She has also given a concert of Haydn songs and arias with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Frans Bruggen. She performed Hyacinthus, in Mozart’s ‘Apollo and Hyacinthus’ and Aminta in ‘Il Re Pastore’ for the Classical Opera Company. While a student at the RCM Martene sang Papegena (Die Zauberflote) and Blanche (Dialogue des Carmelites) and Helena (Midsummer Night’s Dream) for British Youth Opera.
Martene has given recitals at the Royal Opera House. Her other recital engagements include Wigmore Hall, St John Smith Square for the Rosenblatt Series, Aldeburgh Festival, Harrogate Festival and London Song Festival.
Future engagements include Susanna (Figaro) for Opera East, Melia (Apollo et Hyacinthus) for Bampton Opera and Dorinda (Orlando- Handel) for Independent Opera. On the concert platform she will be performing Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate and Requiem at the Albert Hall, Trouble in Tahiti (Bernstein) and Pucinella (Stravinsky) for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. She will also give a recital for the “Song at Mary-le-Bow” song series.