Alumnae Spotlight: Charlotte Clapperton

This week’s Alumnae Spotlight follows Charlotte Clapperton’s (2018) progress since leaving Croydon High.

We were delighted to hear that Charlotte has recently started her master’s degree in Voice and Opera Performance at the Royal College of Music, studying with Dinah Harris and Bryan Evans. This follows four years at the Royal Academy of Music, where she gained a First-Class Honours in Voice and Operatic Studies, a massive achievement as it is so rare that a school leaver is invited onto this highly competitive course. Charlotte studied with renowned mezzo-soprano Catherine Wyn-Rogers, and repertoire coach Matthew Fletcher. Charlotte is a Lennox Hannay Musical Trust Scholar and Countess of Munster Musical Trust Scholar, both associated with the Royal College of Music.

Charlotte notably won The GDST Young Musician of the Year award in her final year at Croydon High, where she showcased her considerable vocal talents. She is also a keen actress and was nominated for the Michael Caine Award for the best young actress at the Leatherhead Festival 2018 and received the award for the best-devised piece. At Croydon High, she performed in many shows, including as The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz.

Charlotte is a keen choral singer, having performed in a vocal sextet with Stephen Isserlis at Wigmore Hall and as a guest singer in John Rutter’s Feel the Spirit at the Royal Albert Hall. Last summer, she performed at the Oundle International Festival with Texan pianist Mark Rogers; they chose to programme their recital based on the theme “Poets of the British Isles”. She has just finished performing the role of Public Opinion in Orpheus in the Underworld and, in March, will be performing the roles of Maman, La Tasse Chinoise and La Libellule’ in Ravel’s L’enfant et Les Sortileges.

Charlotte told us, “Croydon High gave me a huge amount of support as I prepared for conservatoires. It was my singing teacher who told me I could pursue this as a career and helped me through the rigorous audition process. I also hugely appreciated the opportunities to participate in musicals, plays and recitals – they helped me grow as a performer and instilled the confidence you need to be a professional singer. Mrs Webb and Mr Suranyi, in particular, were amazing during my application process, giving me advice, preparing me for auditions and essentially making sure I had the confidence in myself to go ahead and do it” She went on to say, “In the near future I would like to go on to an opera course at the Conservatoire following my postgrad, then (fingers crossed!) onto a young artists programme at a top opera house – perhaps the Royal Opera, or Opera Wien.”

Mr Suranyi, Croydon High’s Director of Music said “Charlie has always had a genuine passion for music, in particular, opera and choral performance. Throughout her school career, she was a dominant figure in the music department as an ensemble player, director and vocal soloist. She gave a memorable performance of the Domine Deus from Vivaldi’s Gloria. She also led the school orchestra as well as being active in the local music scene where she played the role of Madame Larina in Eugene Onegin alongside professional performers.” Assistant Head Mrs Webb, and former Head of Drama added “Charlie will be remembered for her incredible contribution to school musical productions: a terrifying Miss Hannigan in Annie, an intimidating Mr Bumble in Oliver!, superb comic timing as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz and finally gave a jaw-dropping vocal performance as The Narrator in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Charlotte’s beautiful voice will never be forgotten here at Croydon High; we will follow her journey with great interest.

Mrs Roe
Alumnae Relations Manager