After studying for several years with vocal teacher Ian Kenedy, Essex-based soprano Jessica Hope is now in her third year studying for her BMus in vocal studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with renowned vocal tutor Mary Plazas. Jessica has a wealth of stage experience having completed a foundation year in Music Theatre at Arts Educational Schools London where she trained primarily as a dancer developing the core disciplines of ballet and jazz. The course also providing acting training featuring improvisation and text work as well as voice and speech classes. She has participated in masterclasses with distinguished singers such as Roderick Earle, Angela Rostock, Janet Haney and Rosalind Plowright. In the July 2014, Jessica was awarded highly commended in the Freda Parry Scholarship Competition. Since attending the RNCM Jessica has performed in many operas and ensembles. In 2015 she sang with the RNCM chamber choir in collaboration with The Kings Singers, and in the UK première of Penderecki’s Seventh Symphony Seven Gates of Jerusalem. She was also involved in a collaboration with the Hallé orchestra and choirs in a highly acclaimed performance of excerpts from Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra and Otello conducted by Sir Mark Elder. Operatic experience has included performing in the chorus of the RNCM’s production of Lehar’s The Merry Widow and Savitri, a one act chamber opera by Holst. Jessica’s first major role at the RNCM was as Mae Jones in Kurt Weil’s Street Scene (Dec 2015); a particularly challenging part involving an extensive jitterbug routine. Future engagements include performing in the chorus of Cosi Fan Tutti at the RNCM and competing in the Essex Young Musician and Freda Parry Scholarship Competition this summer. As well as performing Jessica enjoys teaching vocal students of various ages, as well as dance and singing classes at her local stage school, The Studio Romford. She has worked with local amateur music theatre group Firebirds Productions helping to direct several of their most recent shows.