Biography

Scottish soprano, Isla MacEwan, recently completed a Master of Arts in Performance with distinction at the Royal Academy of Music where she studied on scholarship with Alex Ashworth, James Baillieu and Matthew Fletcher. Isla began her vocal training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior Department before graduating with First Class Honours from the Royal Northern College of Music.

Isla is a 2022 Associate Artist with Nevill Holt Opera. 

Isla is an accomplished oratorio singer and a Josephine Baker Trust Scholar. Most recently Isla has sung as a soloist in Bach's Johannes-Passion under Philippe Herreweghe as well as Händel's Messiah with the Manchester Camerata and Nevill Holt Opera. This summer Isla sang Händel’s Eternal Source of Light Divine with the BBC Concert Orchestra as part of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.
Whilst studying at the Royal Academy, Isla was heavily involved in the prestigious Bach the European concert series, collaborating with Eamonn Dougan and Rachel Podger.

Other solo oratorio repertoire includes Brahms Requiem, Mozart Requiem, Mozart Exsultate Jubilate, Fauré Requiem, Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio, Haydn The Creation, Vivaldi Gloria and Schubert Mass in G&C.
Isla was the 2020 recipient of the Oratorio Prize at the David Clover Singing Competition.

On the opera stage, Isla has recently covered the role of Musetta with Nevill Holt Opera whilst singing in the chorus for their production of La Bohème. Solo roles include First and Second Witch Dido and Aeneas with Royal Academy Opera and Hurn Court Opera, Susanna and Barbarina The Marriage of Figaro with Flatpack Opera and Governess The Turn of the Screw with Leeds Youth Opera.
 

Chorus roles include Falstaff with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with the European Opera Centre, L'elisir d’amore with West Green House Opera, Fidelio at the Edinburgh International Festival, The Merry Widow and Street Scene with the Royal Northern College of Music.
Opera scenes include Anne Truelove The Rake’s Progress, Sophie Der Rosenkavalier, Nanetta Falstaff, Marie La Fille du Régiment and Serpetta La finta giardiniera.
As a recitalist, Isla was a member of the Royal Academy's prestigious Song Circle. Isla has sung recitals   in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Recital Hall, Bradford Cathedral and Rekstensamlingene Recital Hall in Bergen, Norway.

In 2020, Isla won the English Song Prize at the David Clover Singing Competition and received Highly
Commended in the Michael Head English Song Prize at the Royal Academy of Music. 
Isla is generously supported by the Baird Trust and the Nan Copeland Award.