Singer of the National Anthem,
https://www.samanthaoxborough.com/
Opening Ceremony, Commonwealth Games 2022.
Samantha’s musical career began in childhood singing in local festivals, being a member of Pendle Youth Choir and playing Euphonium in Slaidburn Silver and Burnley Alliance Junior Bands. Helped by The Pendle Young Musicians Bursary she went on to study singing with Christine Cairns at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She won many prizes and awards, performed in operas and recitals, and came third in The Kathleen Ferrier Bursary held in King George’s Hall, Blackburn.
Samantha received national newspaper praise for her opera performances and notably sang duets in concerts with Sir John Tomlinson (with KVU) and Roderick Williams. She also won The Geraint Morris Award in Cardiff and sang with the Massed Welsh Male Voice Choirs in The Royal Albert Hall in 2018accompanied by Susan.
Moving on to The National Opera Studio helped still by PYMB and Orion GMS of Ilkley, she was like many, directly affected by the Covid Pandemic, but notably co-operated with the composer Cheryl Frances Hoad to create Asphodel. (2020)
With music still recovering Samantha worked front of house at Symphony Hall Birmingham, sometimes as a security guard and for MENCAP. She began teaching singing in a secondary school and was asked to sing the National Anthem at The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Viewed by over a billion people worldwide, this was possibly the last time “God Save The Queen” was sung. Samantha was invited to meet the then Prince Charles. Singing the new “God Save The King” National Anthem singing has become a feature of Samantha’s work appearing regularly for rugby and football matches.
In 2022 her first Messiah was very exciting under Nigel Wilkinson and the Burnley Municipal Choir and she returns in December 2023. Throughout this spring Samantha has worked as a chorus mentor for Birmingham Opera in Eisler’s The Decision, helping their mission to bring opera into the community. She also delivers interactive sessions and concerts for children with special needs for Welsh National Opera. She sings regularly in West Midlands Care Homes enjoying the connection music makes where other communication is starting to fail. A recent appearance for KVU Singers under Frank Smith saw Samantha sing the Brahms Alto Rhapsody, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Karl Jenkins’ Stabat Mater to much acclaim.
You also may have spotted Samantha recently as a guest on The Antiques Road Trip. Recommended by the Ferrier Society to teach antiques expert Izzy Balmer to sing Blow the wind Southerly! The Trip had reached Blackburn and wanted to celebrate the town’s most famous daughter, Kathleen Ferrier.