Victoria Oruwari - Soprano BMus Hons TCM and PGdip (Distinction)

London based soprano and teacher of singing, Victoria Ekenta Oruwari hails from Rivers State, Nigeria.

Early years

Victoria started singing at the age of 8 after having piano lessons for over two years. Under the tutorship of music teacher Mr John Yekini, she developed her singing and was soon presented to perform at various national charity events in venues such as the National Art Theatre, and the Muson Centre, in Nigeria. Victoria was forced to put her music aside and focus on her academic work after she gained admission in to Queen's College. A highly sort after school for girls situated in Lagos Nigeria. In spite of time restrictions due to the academic workload, Victoria still found time to have a few singing lessons with Miss Ada, the Music Teacher at the time, and performed at a lunch time concert series held for young musicians at the Musical Society of Nigeria's Concert Hall.

College years

On immigrating to England she attended RNIB New College Worcester where she obtained A-levels in English, Sociology, and Music. She also started classical singing lessons with Amanda Ballard, A distinguished recitalist and teacher of singing in Worcester, and Piano lessons with Angela Allard, a concert pianist from the Birmingham Conservatoire.

During her time at the College, she performed with her school choir in the Birmingham Symphony Hall, Worchester Cathedral, Huntingdon Hall, and the Queen Elizabeth Hall. She also gave recitals at the East Nor Castle and St. Martins Church Worcester.

Undergraduate years

In 2001, Victoria gained admission to Trinity College of Music where she acquired her Bachelor of Music Degree, then subsequently passed her Postgraduate Diploma with distinction.

During her undergraduate years, Victoria was featured in the College's lunch time concert series and performed various choral works with the TCM Choir. Such works included Britten's War Requiem, Tippet's Child of our Time, and Tallis's Speminalium.

Her first opera role was that of the consultant in David Johnston's Sorry False Alarm. Victoria was also involved in outreach projects aimed at bringing music to the community, often running singing workshops and assisting classroom music teachers.

Her professors for singing were: John Wakefield, Alistair Young, and Linda Hirst.

Postgraduate years

Victoria spent most of her postgraduate years mastering her art as an opera singer and recitalist. She had master classes with celebrated tenors and sopranos such as Richard Jackson, Nick Clapton, Nick Searsens, Omar Ibrahim, Alison Wells, and Mary King. She also had acting lessons with soprano and music psychologist Dr Jane Davidson.

Opera Roles studied include

'Fiordiligi' in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, 'Mathilde' in Rossini's Guilliame Tell, 'Beatrice' in Bellini's Beatrice di Tenda, the 'Dew Fairy' in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.

Opera roles performed include

'Sour Mathilde' In TCM's production of Poulenc's Dialogue des Carmelites, first soprano chorus in Bizet's Carmen, 'Ladies of the Night' in TCM's production of Weill's Three Penny Opera.

Her professors were Wendy Eathorne, Robert Aldwinkle, and Linda Hirst.

Victoria also performs songs from music theatre and jazz and was featured in the TCM musical theatre show cases at the Blackheath Halls where she performed songs from various shows with the TCM orchestra.

Current Activities

Victoria has become a popular choice of artist asked to perform at various functions.

She has been invited to give recitals at the Regents Hall, Charlton House, The MUSON Centre's Agip Recital Hall Lagos, and has been asked to perform at various corporate and private functions in venues including the Ritz Hotel in London with Cherie Blair in attendance, and Shell Guest House Abuja for the former vice President of Shell, Anne Prichard. Victoria was asked to sing the national anthem at the final ceremony held at Alexandra Palace to celebrate Nigeria's 50th anniversary of independence. The Vice President of Nigeria was in attendance.

Outside Performance

Victoria currently teaches singing at Acton High School, and is the vocal leader for RNIB's Youth Music Choir.

She has been involved with Drake Music outreach project where she led vocal workshops and mentored young musicians.

In addition to singing, Victoria has a flare for song writing and has worked with a number of noted producers.

Victoria's awards and scholarships include

  • The Mark Plummer Award for hard work and fortitude;
  • The Fletcher Butcher Award for distinguished musicianship;
  • The Elizabeth Eagle Bott Memorial Scholarship;
  • The Newman Thomas Commonwealth Award for outstanding progress;
  • And the Eva Noreen Student Scholarship Award.

Future plans include

More studio sessions recording songs, giving more recitals, expanding her teaching of singing and mentoring young musicians.