Laurie Ashworth

Laurie Ashworth grew up in Wigan, Lancashire, where her passion for music began at an early age. She started playing the piano at just three years old before embarking on her formal musical training at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2002, studying with Caroline Crawshaw. Graduating with First Class Honours, Laurie was awarded the College's prestigious Gold Medal for Performance.

Supported by awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Laurie went on to complete a Master's degree in Vocal Performance at the Royal College of Music, studying with Patricia Rozario and Janis Kelly. She graduated with Distinction.

Over the course of her career, Laurie has established a diverse repertoire, with particular specialisms in oratorio, recital and recording work. She has performed at many of the UK's leading concert venues, making her BBC Proms debut at the Royal Albert Hall in 2012 and her Wigmore Hall recital debut in 2014.

In 2010, Laurie was awarded the Song Prize at the Kathleen Ferrier Awards and was also runner-up in BBC Radio 2's The Kiri Prize, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's nationwide search for Britain's next operatic star. She has appeared regularly on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and Songs of Praise, performing repertoire spanning opera, musical theatre and the wartime songs made famous by Dame Vera Lynn.

Laurie is the soprano soloist on the premiere recordings of Bob Chilcott's Requiem (Hyperion Records) and St John Passion (Signum Records). She has also contributed to the soundtracks of several major films, including Pan and How to Train Your Dragon.

Beyond the UK, Laurie co-founded the vocal duo Eterni Amici with saxophonist Spencer Moran in 2017. Together they performed extensively aboard Viking Ocean Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

Now based in the North West of England, Laurie combines a busy performing schedule with a thriving teaching career. She is Head Judge of the BBC Young Chorister of the Year Competition and is passionate about nurturing the next generation of performers. Her students have gone on to study at leading institutions including the Royal Northern College of Music, Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford as Choral Scholars, and renowned performing arts colleges including Laine Theatre Arts, Bird College, Urdang and LIPA.