Biography

Cornish Mezzo-Soprano Amy Karensa is studying on the MMus Vocal Performance course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the tutelage of Wilma MacDougall and Jane Irwin- generously supported by the Biddy Baxter and John Hosier Music Trust Scholarship (2025), Help Musicians and the RCS Trust. Amy also completed her BMus in Vocal Studies at the RCS in 2024.

Some of Amy’s recent awards include being the Winner of the Elgar Spedding Lieder Competition adjudicated by Malcom Martineau alongside her duo partner Donglin Ou, Winner of the Florence Ilber Veitch Oratorio Prize, 2nd Prize in the ‘Leonie Kayser Competition for Singing 2023’ at the RCS and Winner of the Classical Voice category of the Chris Treglown Foundation fund 2022. Amy sang the role of ‘Zulma’ in Rossini’ L’Italiana in Algeri with Longhope Opera in 2025. In 2024, Amy performed the role of the ’Sorceress’ in Purcell’ Dido and Aeneas at the RCS and also sang the role of ‘Third Swan Maiden’ for a CD release of Bantock’ The Seal Woman for Retrospect Opera with the orchestra of Scottish Opera. Amy sang ‘Dritte Dame’ in Mozart’ Die Zäuberflöte with Berlin Opera Academy in 2023. Recent oratorio works include Alto soloist in Rossini’ Petite Messe Solenelle and Soprano 2 in Mozart’s Mass in C Minor. Previously, Amy was also proud to have been selected as a Karen Cargill Associate Artist during her undergraduate degree, which culminated in concerts with Fridays at One and the Cumnock Tryst as the Alto soloist in Brahms’ Liebeslieder Op.52. Amy has had masterclasses Catriona Morison, Nicky Spence and Marie McLaughlin, and Dame Felicity Lott.

Award: Biddy Baxter & John Hosier Music Trust Scholarship 2025

Photo Credit: Lacuna Photography