Biography

Eleanor Garside, originally from Oldham in Lancashire, is a graduate of the University of Manchester, the Royal Northern College of Music and English National Opera’s professional development course Opera Works. She has been a recipient of the Dame Lees Award, the Proctor Gregg Prize, the Richard Newitt Fund Award, the Claire Croiza Prize for French Song, the Frederic Cox Prize for Singing and was a finalist in the Elizabeth Harwood Award at the RNCM. Since graduating, she has won second prize in the AESS Patricia Routledge Prize for English Song, been a semi-finalist in both the Royal Overseas League Vocal Competition and the Mozart Competition and a finalist in the Emmy Destinn Competition.

Eleanor has performed operatic roles including Yum Yum (The Mikado), Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas), Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring), Atalanta (Xerxes), Jano (Jenufa) and Papagena (The Magic Flute). She was reviewed as a “superb comic turn” in The Telegraph and a “standout performance” in The Guardian for her portrayal of Aunt Norris (Mansfield Park) with Waterperry Opera. She has also sung with Grange Park Opera and Wexford Festival Opera, both as a soloist and as a member of the chorus.

A frequent performer with choral societies, Eleanor is passionate about the oratorio repertoire. Recent performances have included Mendelssohn’s Elijah with Bolton Choral Union, Handel’s Messiah in Lincoln Cathedral with the Cathedral Choir, Haydn’s Nelson Mass with Ellesmere Port Choral Society and Bach’s St John Passion with Beverley Chamber Choir. She was particularly proud to return to her alma mater to perform Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the University of Manchester Chorus

Eleanor is particularly passionate about her work within the educational outreach sector, having been a teacher for Pimlico Opera’s Primary Robins scheme for seven years, taking weekly singing lessons with live piano playing into classrooms across the UK. She has also worked with English National Opera’s Youth Company and Community Chorus, is a Create and Sing practitioner for the Royal Opera House and is a voice mentor and section leader for the London International Choral Festival.