Originally from New Zealand, Anna comes from a family of musicians, and, inspired by an uncle, chose the viola as her instrument, playing in local and national orchestras until it gradually became apparent that singing was to provide a more absorbing focus.

After several years in the New Zealand National Youth Choir, Anna took their overseas tour as an opportunity to audition, successfully, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she then studied, gaining her MMUS first with David Pollard, and later as well, with Paula Anglin. During this time her roles included Venus, La Didone, (Cavalli), cond. Christian Curnyn; Jenny, Die Dreigroschenoper, (Weill) – English National Opera 1st framework project; Conception, L'Heure Espagnol, (Ravel) – staged scenes.

Pre-Mezzo highlights included singing 1st Lady, Die Zauberflöte, (Mozart) in scenes conducted in concert by Sir Colin Davis for the Principal's Farewell Concert.

Anna recently completed the two-year opera course in Amsterdam, De Nieuwe Opera Academie where she had the enviable opportunity to work under several esteemed conductors and directors. Roles included Ruggiero, Alcina (Handel) cond. Richard Eggar, dir. Javier Lopez Pinon; Dido, Dido and Aeneas (Purcell), cond. Jeremy Carnall, dir. Christiaan Mooij; Zita, Gianni Schicchi (Puccini), cond. J. Carnall, dir. Javier Lopez Pinon; Hermia, A Midsummer Night's Dream, (Britten) cond. Lukas Vis, dir. Alexander Oliver. She has twice performed on 'Opera Pietje' with Radio Nord Holland and more recently was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Deutekom Concours, Amsterdam.

Anna has performed throughout the UK and New Zealand, in concert, opera and oratorio including a Gala performance with the NZSO under Michael Lloyd as a Mobil Song Quest finalist. Concert presentations in UK and NZ include Les Nuits D'été, (Berlioz) – recorded by Concert FM NZ, Italienisches Liederbuch, (Wolf), Shéhérazade (Ravel), and a NZ concert tour of works by NZ composers. In July/August 2006, together with Anna presented a very successful series of concerts with the Russian-Czech pianist Lada Valesova in New Zealand, featuring repertoire of Slavic Romantic composers. She currently works with Paula Anglin (London) and Margreet Honig. (Amsterdam).

Throughout, Anna has received numerous scholarships and awards, but most notable is the considerable support she has received from the Willi Fels Memorial Trust, and the Prior Family.

Source: Anna Pierard

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