Rhona Coogan is a lyric soprano and classical singer based in Cardiff. She has a BMus in Vocal Studies from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She has experience directing and assisting in student and community opera productions, including workshops introducing children to opera. She founded the classical vocal ensemble Island Opera in 2008 providing performance opportunities for young singers on the Isle of Skye.

1. Rhona Coogan, Soprano
Classical Singer and Teacher
Opera Director, Assistant Director, Stage Manager
Flat 1, 30 Crwys Road, CARDIFF, CF24 4NL
Phone: (+44) 07837835373
Email: RhonaCoogan@hotmail.com
D.O.B 22.09.1988
Profile
I am a lyric soprano with a passion for performance and a keen interest in directing. I have enjoyed
directing and assisting student and community-driven productions and have particular interest in
running workshops which introduce children to opera.
Education
BMus (Hons) Vocal Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff
Completion date: July 2015
 Studying under Gail Pearson & Jeffrey Howard
Secondary School Education (Portree High School, Isle of Skye)
 SQA Higher Grades: Music A, English A, Maths A, Biology A
Personal Experience
ISLAND OPERA
I co-founded Island Opera, a classical vocal ensemble, on the Isle of Skye in 2008. The ensemble was established
to provide performance opportunities to young singers who had a passion for opera and who were looking to
express this music in a fresh and accessible way. We performed at private engagements and took semi-staged
themed concerts on tour.
In 2012 the company was re-established in Cardiff, providing a platform for aspiring singers in the city,
particularly undergraduate students at the RWCMD. In re-launching, I have organized performances and events
for large groups of performers, working to the specific requests of clients. This has enabled me to gain
experience in all aspects of event management and managing performers.
Island Opera Performances
Young Enterprise Awards – Hilton Hotel, Newport. Full musical theatre-themed performance by 12
singers and pianist (Nov ’13)
Halloween at the Clink – The Clink Restaurant, Cardiff. A themed programme of spooky vocal music,
performed as customers dined (Oct ’13)
The Mayor of Caerphilly’s Annual Ball – The Great Hall, Caerphilly Castle. Gala performance featuring 15
singers and pianist (June ’13)
Lunch time recitals in The Clink Restaurant, Cardiff (Mar ’13 – currently)
Charity Gala in aid of Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice – Caerphilly Castle (Jun ’11)
An Evening of Mozart Opera Scenes Small ensemble touring Skye (Mar ’09)
Spaghetti Opera Weekly operatic entertainment in a restaurant as customers enjoyed Italian cuisine –
The Stables, Armadale, Skye (Jan ’09 – July ’11)
A Night at the Opera Small ensemble touring North West Scotland (Nov ’08)

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Directing and Outreach Experience
Assistant Director/Stage Manager Hansel & Gretel Opera’r Ddraig The Gate Arts Centre,
Cardiff (Oct/Nov ’14)
Director Ddraigstock Opera Scenes Presented by Eric Roberts Opera’r Ddraig Richard Burton
Theatre, RWCMD (Jun ’14)
Assistant Director/Stage Manager The Barber of Seville Magnetic Opera Lauriston Halls,
Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Aug ’14)
Assistant Director, Carmen Opera’r Ddraig The Gate Arts Centre, Cardiff (Nov ’13 – Feb ’14)
I directed the cover cast and worked with the children’s chorus as well as assisting the
director.
Assistant Director/Workshop Leader The Pirates of Penzance Inner Sound Tour of Skye and
the West Coast of Scotland (Jul ’13)
Workshop Leader at primary schools across South Wales with the RWCMD. In these
sessions I introduced opera music to primary school children in a series of 2-hour workshops
(Feb ’13 – Jun ’13)
Operatic Roles
‘Yum Yum’ The Mikado, ‘Buttercup’ H.M.S Pinafore, Gilbert & Sullivan RWCMD Repco:
Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Scenes RWCMD/Llandudno/Hertford (Feb ’15), Cover chorus
Madame Butterfly, Puccini The Opera Project Bristol (Oct ’14) Chorus Acis & Galatea,
Handel MWO RWCMD Chamber Choir (Jan/Feb ’14) Chorus Orpheus in the Underworld,
Offenbach Opera’r Ddraig The Coal Exchange, Cardiff (Feb ’13), ‘First Lady’ The Magic
Flute, Mozart Opera’r Ddraig Opera Scenes Richard Burton Theatre RWCMD (Jun ’12),
‘Josephine’ H.M.S Pinafore, G & S Inner Sound (Jul ’10), ‘Angelina’ Trial by Jury, G & S
Inner Sound (Jul ’09), ‘Gianetta’ The Gondoliers, G & S Inner Sound (Jul’ 08), ‘Phyllis’
Iolanthe, G & S Inner Sound (Jul ’07), Play: ‘Anne Frank’ The Diary of Anne Frank,
Goodrich & Hackett Inner Sound (Mar ’08)
Performances in Public Masterclasses / Songclasses
Simon Lepper, Michael Pollock, Ingrid Surgenor, Adrian Thompson, Marilyn Rees, Janis
Kelly, Leah Marian Jones, Jeff Howard, Suzanne Murphy, Eric Roberts, Donald Maxwell, Jeff
Stuart, Alison Wells and David Knotts
Choral Performances
Gilbert & Sullivan Workshop led by Donald Maxwell RWCMD (Jan ’15), Soloist Machen
Carol Service cond. Peter Esswood St John’s Church, Machen (Dec ’14), Soloist Christmas
Concert AllSaints’ Church Llandaff North (Dec ’14), Snow Songs: A RWCMD Vocal Project
cond. David Harrington RWCMD/St Donats Arts Centre/National Museum of Wales (Dec ’14),
Chorus Britten War Requiem RWCMD Symphony Orchestra cond. Carlo Rizzi St David’s
Hall (Nov ’14), Chorus British Carols RWCMD Chamber Choir Concert cond. Neil Ferris
Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD (Dec ’13), Chorus Symphony No.2 in C minor Mahler RWCMD
SO cond. David Jones St David’s Hall RWCMD (Nov ’13), Lunch-time Recital Congress
Theatre Cwmbran (Oct ’13), Chorus A St David’s Day Celebration in the presence of HRH
The Prince of Wales DSH (Mar ’13), Soloist RWCMD Burns Night Concert DSH RWCMD
(Jan ’13),Chorus Nine Lessons & Carols RWCMD Chamber Choir cond. Neil Ferris DSH
(Dec ’12) Chorus Verdi Requiem RWCMD SO cond. Carlo Rizzi St David’s Hall (Nov ’12),
Soloist Schubert Chamber Music Weekend RWCMD (Oct ’12), Soloist Royal Masters of
Music Concert National Museum of Wales (Mar ’12), Soloist Burns Night Concert Cardiff
Caledonian Society (Jan ’12), Chorus Alexander Nevsky RWCMD SO cond. David Jones St.
David’s Hall (Nov ’11), Chorus The Black Isle Messiah conducted by Alasdair Nicholson,

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Fortrose (Dec ’09), Soloist Choral Tour of Vienna Solo performances in St Peterskirche and
Stephansdom (’06 and ’08)
Festival Successes
Inverness Music Festival Overall Winner (’09)
Saltburn-by-Sea Music Festival Singer of the Year (’08)
Previous Employment
2011 – currently: Private music teacher, Cardiff
Teaching youngsters singing and piano, ABRSM / TCL Music Grades optional.
2011 – currently: Supervisor at Summerhouse café/Secret Garden café, Bute Park, Cardiff.
Overseeing the general duties of the day-to-day running of the café and managing other staff.
Dealing with any customer enquiries or complaints. Responsibility of cashing up and locking
up the premises at the end of the day.
2008 – 2012: Front of House Supervisor at Kinloch Lodge Country House Hotel, Isle of Skye.
Dealing with general enquiries and customer care. Maintaining a high level of responsibility
in solving any problems that arose in the general running of the hotel.
2009 – 2011: Private music teacher, Isle of Skye.
I taught singing and piano lessons one day a week, giving me experience in running and
managing my own music practice.
2006 – 2008: Classroom assistant, Broadford Primary School, Isle of Skye.
Full-time position as a classroom assistant, helping me to develop teaching skills and
understanding of working with children.
Other relevant skills and training
Languages: Fluent Scottish Gaelic. Basic knowledge of Italian, German and French.
Grade VIII Pianist.
Basic stage combat and fight choreography experience.
Full, clean UK driving license and experience of driving large vehicles.
References
Gail Pearson – Professional Soprano and Voice Teacher
Gailpearson31@aol.com
Angela Livingstone – Head of Opera, Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting (RWCMD)
Angela.Livingstone@rwcmd.ac.uk