Victoria's Royal Academy of Music fundraiser
Donation protected
Hello there!
I’m Victoria Armillotta, a British-Italian soprano.
The doors to classical music opened seemingly by chance while I was taking pop singing lessons at 14/15, shortly after moving to the UK from Tuscany. At the time, I had no idea about opera but my fluency of Italian allowed me to deeply connect with the text of a particular opera aria I happened to click on online. The combination of the powerful words and highly expressive melody affected me in such a way that I had never experienced before and couldn’t quite describe: I had a strong feeling that this was my calling. Since then, I have been hooked, and I haven’t ever turned back.
Fast forward…
In 2020 I graduated with a First-Class Honours Bachelor of Music degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. My performance highlights include singing the principal role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart at the Theater im Delphi, Berlin (Berlin Opera Academy), performing Haydn's Creation in the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London alongside the BBC Philharmonic orchestra under the baton of Omer Meir Wellber and interpreting the role of Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème (Leeds Youth Opera). At the RNCM, I performed in several operas: Cendrillon (Massenet), Suor Angelica (Puccini) and The Pilgrim’s Progress (Vaughan Williams) as well as in opera scenes and recitals, ranging from early music to devising my own contemporary music concert. I have performed in various other productions and projects which can be found on my website www.victoriaarmillotta.com
The past year
Sadly, the culmination of four years of study in Manchester was a tough and anticlimactic experience due to the global situation and singing work was nowhere to be found. Therefore, I decided to take a gap year while applying for Postgraduate studies and save up for them. I am overjoyed to have received and accepted my offer to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, London where I will study with internationally acclaimed soprano Nuccia Focile. This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime dream come true!
How you can help
Despite this, world-class tuition comes with considerable costs. In this fundraiser, I am seeking help to cover some living expenses for the first year of my Masters in London. My work savings from 2021 and Student Finance England grant will cover the tuition fees (£12,550). Fortunately, I have secured some funding from charities to assist with maintenance costs and am continuing to seek such help every day, but I still find myself short of most funds to pay for rent, bills and travel. During my Postgraduate, I plan to work but I realise that extensive work hours will negatively impact my study time and stall my progress. Hence, I hope to work manageable hours during term time and extend them in the holidays. The pandemic has also taken its toll on me financially: regardless of my determined efforts to seek employment last year, I wasn’t able to find any except for private Italian teaching. This year I started working as an administrator on top of my teaching work, which I am grateful for. Nonetheless, the losses from last year’s lack of work have impacted my ability to save for my Postgraduate as anticipated.
Your support would go a long way: with your help, I could fully engage with the course and carve out enough valuable practice time. I am very fiscally aware and am well versed at making a little go a long way. Each and every donation, no matter how big or small would be greatly appreciated and would go towards making my dreams (and hard work) a reality.
Rewards
Your help wouldn’t go unnoticed! As a little incentive to donate…
· Donors of £100 will be eligible for a free pair of tickets for an upcoming recital in Devon (dates TBC).
· Donors of £250 will be eligible for a personal recorded art song or aria of your choice (pre-discussed with me).
· Donors of £750 will be eligible for a performance in a function of your choice.
· Donors of £1,000 will be eligible for a private concert.
Kindly share this with people who you think may be able to help my cause. I have also created a short video summating the information, below.
“Grazie di cuore” for stopping by and for your support!
Much love,
Victoria
I’m Victoria Armillotta, a British-Italian soprano.
The doors to classical music opened seemingly by chance while I was taking pop singing lessons at 14/15, shortly after moving to the UK from Tuscany. At the time, I had no idea about opera but my fluency of Italian allowed me to deeply connect with the text of a particular opera aria I happened to click on online. The combination of the powerful words and highly expressive melody affected me in such a way that I had never experienced before and couldn’t quite describe: I had a strong feeling that this was my calling. Since then, I have been hooked, and I haven’t ever turned back.
Fast forward…
In 2020 I graduated with a First-Class Honours Bachelor of Music degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. My performance highlights include singing the principal role of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart at the Theater im Delphi, Berlin (Berlin Opera Academy), performing Haydn's Creation in the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London alongside the BBC Philharmonic orchestra under the baton of Omer Meir Wellber and interpreting the role of Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème (Leeds Youth Opera). At the RNCM, I performed in several operas: Cendrillon (Massenet), Suor Angelica (Puccini) and The Pilgrim’s Progress (Vaughan Williams) as well as in opera scenes and recitals, ranging from early music to devising my own contemporary music concert. I have performed in various other productions and projects which can be found on my website www.victoriaarmillotta.com
The past year
Sadly, the culmination of four years of study in Manchester was a tough and anticlimactic experience due to the global situation and singing work was nowhere to be found. Therefore, I decided to take a gap year while applying for Postgraduate studies and save up for them. I am overjoyed to have received and accepted my offer to study at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, London where I will study with internationally acclaimed soprano Nuccia Focile. This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime dream come true!
How you can help
Despite this, world-class tuition comes with considerable costs. In this fundraiser, I am seeking help to cover some living expenses for the first year of my Masters in London. My work savings from 2021 and Student Finance England grant will cover the tuition fees (£12,550). Fortunately, I have secured some funding from charities to assist with maintenance costs and am continuing to seek such help every day, but I still find myself short of most funds to pay for rent, bills and travel. During my Postgraduate, I plan to work but I realise that extensive work hours will negatively impact my study time and stall my progress. Hence, I hope to work manageable hours during term time and extend them in the holidays. The pandemic has also taken its toll on me financially: regardless of my determined efforts to seek employment last year, I wasn’t able to find any except for private Italian teaching. This year I started working as an administrator on top of my teaching work, which I am grateful for. Nonetheless, the losses from last year’s lack of work have impacted my ability to save for my Postgraduate as anticipated.
Your support would go a long way: with your help, I could fully engage with the course and carve out enough valuable practice time. I am very fiscally aware and am well versed at making a little go a long way. Each and every donation, no matter how big or small would be greatly appreciated and would go towards making my dreams (and hard work) a reality.
Rewards
Your help wouldn’t go unnoticed! As a little incentive to donate…
· Donors of £100 will be eligible for a free pair of tickets for an upcoming recital in Devon (dates TBC).
· Donors of £250 will be eligible for a personal recorded art song or aria of your choice (pre-discussed with me).
· Donors of £750 will be eligible for a performance in a function of your choice.
· Donors of £1,000 will be eligible for a private concert.
Kindly share this with people who you think may be able to help my cause. I have also created a short video summating the information, below.
“Grazie di cuore” for stopping by and for your support!
Much love,
Victoria
Organizer
Victoria Armillotta
Organizer
England
