I am a classically trained, versatile soprano able to perform opera, musical theatre and contemporary music. I started singing after studying music and composition at Durham University. While training as a singer with renowned baritone Norman Welsby I received valuable coaching and advice through reaching the final stages of Channel 4's Operatunity competition.

I have sung numerous operatic roles since, including performances as Queen of the Night (Mozart's Magic Flute) for British Youth Opera and Surrey Opera, Clorinda (Rossini's La Cenerentola) and Adina (Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore) for Vox Lirika, Adèle (J. Strauss' Die Fledermaus) for Steyning Music Society, Fiordiligi (Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte) and Tatyana (Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin) for Birmingham Chamber Orchestra and the Lace Seller (Britten's Death in Venice) and Airport Officer/ZDF Director (Mason's Playing Away) in the Aldeburgh and Bregenz Festivals.

As a concert performer I have sung in venues across the UK such as the Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and St John's, Smith Square and have sung in a number of live performances on Radio 3.  I have made regular appearances as a soloist for the Adoramus Choir & Orchestra in venues across England and Italy, particular highlights being Mozart's Exsultate, Jubilate, Handel's Messiah, Schubert's Magnificat and Rachmaninov's Vocalise.  Concert appearances with the Birmingham Chamber Orchestra have included Mahler's Symphony No. 4, Elettra's arias from Mozart's Idomeneo and classic arias such as Casta Diva (Norma) and Un bel di (Madame Butterfly). I have also performed in operas and concerts in Austria, France, Italy, Cyprus, Madeira and the US.

I have sung with choirs including the BBC Singers, RSVP Singers and Conventus, and am an experienced session singer for film and TV, having sung on the soundtracks for films such as Harry Potter. I also recently appeared as a finalist in ITV's 'Search for a Soprano' competition.

As well as solo performances I am a member of the duo Trovatori with Darren Clarke ( www.trovatori.com), and the singing group Zampa (www.zampasingers.com). Please see my personal website (www.carolinelester.com) for details of upcoming performances. 

I have received coaching from David Syrus, Mary King, Anthony Legge and Donald Maxwell, and currently study with Arwel Treharne Morgan.  Plans for 2011 include further concerts and a recording with Trovatori (see Trovatori website for details), concerts with baritone Jon Barry and a performance of Exsultate, jubilate with the Halesowen Orchestra.