Yolanda Grant-Thompson
Professorial Staff - Voice
Music
Biography
Yolanda Grant-Thompson trained at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music, receiving an Entrance scholarship, the Lord Pitt and Wingate Awards. She has performed at the Royal Opera House in Sir Trevor Nunn’s production of Porgy and Bess and was invited to play the role of Annie in the subsequent BBC TV film of that production. Yolanda has sung with English National Opera, Dutch National Opera and Opera Holland Park, where she was awarded their Laura Monaghan Bursary in her first season with them. Concert solo performances include the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall & Purcell Room at London’s Southbank and St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Yolanda has been teaching singing for many years and balances her teaching and performing with her family life as a wife and mum. Gaining a PGCE, her teaching has extended from the classroom to colleges. Yolanda was Head of Singing for Redbridge Music Service for several years until performing opportunities took her back to the operatic stage. Yolanda has been invited regularly by Mary King on the teaching team of Vocal Workshops at the Royal Academy of Music and more recently on the audition panel and teaching team for Glyndebourne Academy.
Yolanda continues to enjoy balancing her performing and teaching commitments.