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The English soprano , Lois Johnston, graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) with Bachelor of Music degree in in 1993. She then carved a niche for herself as an accomplished performer of early and contemporary music. In 2000, her musical life changed completely when she appeared as one of the flower maidens in Simon Rattle's BBC Proms performance of Parsifal, and discovered a passion for opera. In 2002, she graduated in opera from Birmingham Conservatoire
Lois Johnston has an extensive career as a classical singer, encompassing various genres including Early, Renaissance and Baroque music, Contemporary music, Oratorio and Opera. Recent roles include Servilia, Vixen, Liu and Queen of the Night, and she regularly performs in Opera Gala Evenings, Oratorio and recitals in Europe. Although she now lives and farms in New Zealand, she maintains her Scottish connections and appeared in the 2007-2008 season with Edinburgh Grand Opera and Scottish Opera. She was also a founder member of the Dunedin Consort (Director: John Butt) and sang regularly with the John Currie Singers. As a professional chorister, she has been singing for several years with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Nationale Reisopera (Netherlands), Netherlands Radio Choir and European Voices with whom she toured with Simon Rattle's performances of W.A. Mozart's Idomeneo (Berlin, Lucerne, Salzburg Festival) and Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes (Berlin, Salzburg Festival).
Lois Johnston is also a passionate and dedicated teacher (since 1997), working from her home studio and formerly in two public schools in the UK. She has also taught at residential courses for the National Children's Choir of Great Britain (2004); was Vocal teacher at Malvern College (2004-2006). In New Zealand she held a Masterclass at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand (2008-2012). Currently she has 2 studios in Christchurch (since 2009) and Dunedin, New Zealand. She teaches individuals and groups, holds master-classes, adjudicate competitions and is happy to advise anyone who has a passion for singing. She was also Vocal Director at The Little Box of Operas in Dunedin, New Zealand (2015-2016). Since November 2016, she is Vocalist in Café Operana in New Zealand. Café Operana features Helen Webby on pedal harp, Sophia Bidwell on accordion and Lois Johnston on vocals. She is also a freelance writer, contributing to a variety of newspapers, magazines and journals. |
