Lunchtime Concert: Harp and Voice
WED 25 OCT 13.00
ZARA DONALDSON SOPRANO
FRANCESCA BARTOLO MEZZO-SOPRANO
ANNA PAGNIN HARP
KATYA RAJHANS HARP
LIZA RAJHANS HARP
CHRISTABELLE SHEUM HARP
PROGRAMME
Delibes Flower Duet from
Lakme
Donizetti O Mio Fernando from
La Favorita
Schumann Im Wunderschönen Monat Mai from
Dichterliebe
Mascagni Ave Maria from
Intermezzo from
Cavalleria Rusticana
Bellini O Quante Volte from
I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Strauss Die Nacht
Debussy Nuit d'etoile
Faure Les Berceaux
Puccini O Mio Babbino Caro from
Gianni Schicchi
OffenbachBarcarole from
Tales of Hoffmann
BIOGRAPHIES
Zara Donaldson is a Soprano in the final year of her undergraduate degree under the study of Eamonn Mulhall at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She is a classical singer who will be continuing on to a masters in Vocal performance to further her training as an operatic singer. Zara has been involved in an array of performances including singing lead role of Giulietta in Bellini’s Capuletti e I Montecchi for the University of Redlands Conservatory California, opera chorus for Trinity Laban opera scenes and Opera chorus for the operas Manon Lescaut and The Magic Flute at Dorset Opera Festival. She has also performed solo recitals, ensemble work and in choirs including Puzzle Piece Opera, UofR chapel choir, Chamber choir, Violet Vocals, Vocal Shack Choir and CBSO Youth choir. Zara grew up training in the classical, pop and musical theatre genres she has been in a selection of musicals and performances in these styles. Zara has a passion for music outreach and connecting with all types of people through singing. She is currently a connecting star for Constella Opera Ballet, a singer for Venus Blazing charity and has sung in hospitals for patients and on dementia programmes. Alongside performing Zara works as a music/ singing teacher and has been involved in a selection of outreach programmes in schools.
Francesca Bartolo is a Maltese Mezzo-soprano, currently studying under Sarah Pring at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance (TLCMD), with kind support from the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation & Trinity Laban Bursaries. Francesca is mentored by Dylan Perez and Peter Knapp. In September 2023, Francesca graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree at TLCMD and has now continued her studies at Postgraduate Level. Francesca has also studies in Italy, Austria and New York where she made her Carnegie Hall recital debut last summer. Operatic roles have included Third Lady (Mozart, The Magic Flute), Patricia (Strozzi!, Barbara Strozzi) And Marcellina (Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro)
Anna Pagnin began the study of the harp with Maria Cristina Fogagnolo at the Conservatoire of Music “Cesare Pollini” in Padua. She briefly studied under the guidance of Alessandra Penitenti and now is currently studying at the Conservatoire of Music “Giuseppe Verdi” in Milan with Cristiana Passerini and Maria Elena Bovio. Her passion for traveling and learning is shown through joining the Erasmus+ exchange programme twice. The first time she had the opportunity to study with Ernestine Stoop and Sylvain Blassel at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague. She is now on her second experience abroad, studying with Gabrielle Dall’Olio at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
She played with the Youth Orchestra “I Polli(ci)ni” with which she recorded three CDs. She performed with the “Ensemble Pentacle” in the concerts “Eire Inno all'Irlanda” (2017) and “Harp Legacy The Golden Age” (2018) and with the Youth Orchestra of the Milan Conservatory. She participated in the Masterclasses of Emmanuel Ceysson, Nabila Chajai and Elizabeth Fontan-Binoche.
Katya and
Liza Rajhans were born in 2003 in Kyiv, Ukraine. They started playing music (harp) at the age of 5. From 5 to 10 years old, they studied at the Kyiv Music School in the name of Shamo with the harpist Yelizaveta Gerasina. At the age of 11, they entered the specialized music school named after Chopin in Moscow, where they studied for 5 years with the teacher Helen Watson. During the training, they took part in many international competitions, where they became laureates. After that, they returned to Kyiv and entered Junior Trinity (online). This year, they are students of the 2nd year of study at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire under the guidance of Gabriella Dall'Olio.
Christabelle Sheum, began her music journey at the age of 5 and with piano as her music foundation, she continued to study the harp under the tutelage of Ms Katryna Tan. She was a member of the reputable Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra from 2016-2023. She was subsequently nominated as Members’ Committee Vice President in 2018 and was promoted as the President in 2022. Christabelle has performed in many prestigious events both locally and internationally. Overseas performances include those held in France, Korea, New York and many more. Furthermore, she has been invited to play in numerous charity events, weddings and corporate events. Some of these events consist of Singapore Press Holding’s ChildAid charity concert, President’s Star Charity Show, Girl Guides Gala dinner where Singapore’s former First Lady was the guest of honour. Christabelle has participated and won several music competitions such as the Audience Choice Award in Young Talents Project hosted by MediaCorp, Gold Award (with Honors) for Chamber Music Competition (Flute and Harp duet) in Singapore Raffles International Music Festival, 1st place for the American Protege International Piano and String Competitions held at Carnegie Hall, New York and the Distinction in the Harp Prestige Award, Young Professional category.
Queen's House
Admission free, no ticket required
