Morag McLaren
Morag McLaren (born 1957) is a Scottish singer, director and coach who now focuses on helping young singers at the early stages in their professional careers.
Morag McLaren | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1957 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Genres | Opera, Music Theatre and Cabaret |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, director, coach |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1978-present |
| Website | moragmclaren |
Early life and education
McLaren was born and educated in Edinburgh, graduated in Music Education at Lancaster University and trained as an opera singer at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she studied singing with Frederick Cox. As a mature student she completed an MA with distinction in Performance Health and Personal Development at London College of Music.
Performing and recording career
McLaren has performed in a wide variety of opera, musicals, concerts and music theatre productions during her career, including principal roles with Welsh National Opera (The Mother and Witch in Hansel and Gretel), Scottish Opera (Lucy in Threepenny Opera), The Royal National Theatre (Mrs Segstrom in A Little Night Music) and in the West End (Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera).
McLaren toured internationally with Opera Circus (The Good Wife in Shameless an Immoral Tale), presented on BBC Radio 3, released three solo CDs (I Never Do Anything Twice; Nobody Does It Like Me – A Tribute To Dorothy Fields; Tonight: Lola Blau) and featured on RNT cast recording (A Little Night Music) and other compilations (e.g. Dangerous Cabaret – The Music & Lyrics of Brett Kahr). She has presented one-woman shows worldwide, including Dorothy Fields: Rhythm of Life and Georg Kreisler’s Tonight Lola Blau. She is a founder member of the opera improvisation group, Impropera.
Coaching
McLaren also works as a vocal coach/consultant for emerging artists privately and has led performance workshops and master classes at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London College of Music, Ardingly International Music School, Guildford School of Acting, and The Cooper Hall Emerging Artists Workshop. Her teaching collaboration with Theresa Goble (Vox Integra) involves her in a range of vocal workshops, with an emphasis on the integration of vocal skills with acting for singers.
Directing
McLaren is Patron of Frome Festival, and as the founder and principal Trustee of The Cooper Hall Foundation charity, promotes music performances, education and the development of creative projects at Cooper Hall, a performance space, venue near Frome, Somerset.
She directed the operas The Turn of the Screw, Hansel and Gretel, and Cosi Fan Tutte for Frome Festival in collaboration with Bath Philharmonia. She also directed Dido and Aeneas at London College of Music.
Personal life
She is married and has two adult children. Her son Gregor Riddell is a professional cellist and composer and her daughter Kirsty Riddell is an artist .[1]
References
- Rudden, Liam (19 September 2002). "New style hits the right note". Evening News. Edinburgh (UK): Johnston Press New Media.