P H I L I P P A H E A L E Y

B i o g r a p h y
Originally from Rochdale in Lancashire, Philippa Healey is a critically acclaimed classical soprano, West End leading lady, and music graduate of University College, Oxford. Whilst studying piano and composition at Chetham’s School Of Music, she was appointed as a Section Leader of the National Youth Choir, featuring as a regular soloist and member of its prestigious chamber choir. She also became the youngest solo singer to perform and record with the Academy of St. Martin-In-The-Fields orchestra, under Sir Neville Marriner, at the age of 21. In her postgraduate studies, she was awarded a Diploma with Distinction in Classical Singing (Leeds College of Music).
After graduating from Oxford, Philippa was personally cast by Sir Cameron Mackintosh as Cosette in the record-breaking London production of “Les Misèrables”. Additional West End roles include Tess in “Tess of the D'Urbervilles” (Savoy Theatre), and opera singer Young Heidi in Sondheim’s “Follies” (Royal Festival Hall). Recordings include solo oratorio and musical theatre pieces for BBC Radio 3, Sony Classical, and Hyperion Records. Opera roles include Belinda in “Dido & Aeneas”, Adele in “Die Fledermaus”, and Papagena/1st Boy in “The Magic Flute”.
In 2003 Cunard Cruises invited Philippa to produce and arrange her own classical crossover show, resulting in several years of performing internationally as a headline artist for many of the top cruise lines. She is also a regular performer with the Choir Of the Enlightenment at the BBC Proms, with whom she sang Haydn’s Creation under Sir Simon Rattle in May 2014. Last summer also saw her debut as the featured soloist in a series of "Proms"-style concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra, under Anthony Inglis, and Matt Gunner. Philippa also enjoys transferring her talents to the world of pop, and was thrilled to be singing backing vocals for Kylie Minogue last year, in her sell-out concert at the Royal Albert Hall: "A Kylie Christmas" .
Photo: Ian Mawson