SSLF – Sophie's Silver Lining Fund

We have had the privilege to have sponsored hundreds of amazing young people over the last 15 years – affectionately called our ‘Sophies’. Many have gone on to work professionally in their chosen field, from Opera to Musical Theatre.

Below are just a few of their recent messages and current projects:

Gareth Fordred – Actor

• Actor and founding member of The Faction theatre company
• Currently touring as Malvolio in their acclaimed “Twelfth Night”

Lauren O’Neil – Actor

Currently appearing at the Royal National Theatre with Anthony Sher in ‘Travelling Light’

Celia Adams – Actor

Currently touring a Nancy in the nation wide tour of ‘Swallows and Amazons’. She also runs her own theatre company: In The Same Boat

Jane Maudsley – Singer

Jane Maudsley is a past scholar of Sophie’s Silver Lining Fund. Jane read Music at the University of Sheffield (1997-2000) and then furthered her Classical Vocal Training at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (2002- 2004) where she was fortunate to complete her Masters with the help of the fund. Whilst at the RSAMD she completed PGDip (Concert Singing) and MMus (Performance). Jane moved back to the North West and whilst continuing to sing and audition as a Mezzo Soprano quickly established herself as a Vocal Tutor throughout the Schools in Lancashire. In 2007 Jane founded the Performing Arts Organisation, Little Voices, training children aged 4 -18 years in Drama and Singing using a unique framework of lessons, very small class sizes and working specifically towards accredited Musical Theatre examinations. Little Voices has many venues in the North West, London and is growing nationwide. Jane feels very lucky to have been supported by the fund and realise her dreams of success. She was honoured to be asked to become a SSLF Trustee in 2010.

Ilona Domnich – Opera Singer

Ilona has a very busy summer of performances including Tatiana in Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky at Grange Park Opera at Nevill Holt (press on the link) with further 4 performances 14th-16th September at The Grange, Hampshire and at the Cadogan Hall, London 20th September.

Tim Allsop – Actor

Currently playing Richard in Richard III in Guildford, www.guildfordshakespearecompany.co.uk

Messages from Past Scholars:

“Thank you so much for your lovely message and your good wishes. I am glad to see that Sophie’s Barn keeps busy and witnessing so much music and drama, and that the family is growing! Thank you again for your support in my studies – this year, my last one on the Opera Course at Guildhall, I will be performing Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Barbican theatre at the end of February, beginning of March, and a new opera by Ned Rorem at the end of May. Then I will go to work with Glyndebourne Festival Opera during the summer.”

Jorge Navarro-Colorado  - Singer

 

“I’m glad to hear that SSLF is still going strong and giving students a much needed helping hand.I certainly found the scholarship to be very helpful during my studies.I am now a member of the WNO chorus, and have recently formed a quartet with some of my colleagues, perhaps we could come and give a performance at the barn if we are in the area – we tour to Oxford once a year, usually in the Autumn.”

Huw Llywelyn – Tenor

 

“As ever, I’m keeping pretty busy. Currently in rehearsals for Blackshaw Theatre’s adaptation of Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast which will be on at the Actors’ Church in Covent Garden in April.”

Clare Harlow – Actor

Past Scholars will now be able  to update us our Facebook page so click on the link for further information about them, the charity and Sophie’s Barn.