Newcastle-born soprano Joan Trainor began her career studying with renowned local teacher Dr. E. Hutchinson, whose former pupils include Kathleen Ferrier and Sheila Armstrong, and with Ken Ormston. She went on to study with Robert Alva of the Royal Academy of Music, London and later obtained her performance diploma from Trinity College of Music, London. In 1989 Joan was awarded a fellowship of Trinity College.
She sang with Northern Opera, performing principal roles as varied as Elisabeth in Don Carlos and Yaroslavna in Prince Igor. She was recommended to apply to the Opera School at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, studying there under the personal direction of Ernesto Barbini, conductor of the Canadian Opera Company and coach to New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. Later she studied vocal technique with Irene Jessner de Norby, singing the title role in Aida and Leonora in Il forza del destino.
Joan competed to study in Tito Gobbi’s famous Opera Workshop in Florence, Italy, winning one of only 20 places against worldwide competition. There she studied such major roles as Desdemona in Otello, Floria Tosca in Tosca, and Mimi in La Bohème.
In 1986, Joan founded an 80 strong adult mixed-voice choir, The Ravenswood Singers, and continues as its Musical Director today. The group performs a wide repertoire drawn from opera, traditional song and musicals at prime venues in the region. In addition to regular concerts, the choir is acclaimed for its charity work, singing at both local and regional events, most notably at the Royal Gala Evening held at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne in the presence of their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of York.
Joan spent a number of years as Head of Music in one of the largest schools in Newcastle upon Tyne, specialising in training competitive choirs with stunning success, and at the same time conducting and directing singing at a city theatre school.
Joan is currently Vocal Specialist with Newcastle upon Tyne Education Authority and also uses her expert musical talents to teach solo singing to a number of promising singers throughout the region both as private pupils and through her work with Newcastle Music Service.
Joan is a member of both the performing and teaching sections of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and is listed in the performers section of the British & International Music Yearbook.