Anna Shackleton graduated with a first class honours degree in Vocal Studies from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, under the guidance of highly renowned mezzo-soprano, Christine Cairns, and has since appeared as a soloist with orchestras and choral societies across the UK and Europe. These include regular engagements with the Orchestra of St John's, directed by John Lubbock, OBE.
Anna is a highly versatile singer with extensive experience singing early and baroque repertoire, but also enjoys jazz, contemporary and choral works. She has been a soloist with Schola Pietatis Antonio Vivaldi with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and has sung at the London Baroque Festival, Barbican, Foundling Museum, Handel House, Kings Place, St John’s Smith Square, amongst many others. She has recently become lead vocalist with Oxford’s ‘little big band’, The Carpathians and very much enjoys the contrast in musical styles.
Anna is an experienced teacher, having taught for well over ten years - teaching choristers in Oxford and helping students to gain music scholarships to many prestigious schools, and attain consistently excellent ABRSM results. Anna has completed her Postgraduate Studies in Vocal Pedagogy and has specialist knowledge of vocal anatomy and production, and can particularly aid students in correcting vocal production, postural and tension issues.
She currently teaches at Downe House, near Newbury and Matrix Music School, in Sutton Courtenay. Anna is available to teach students privately, and offers vocal technique workshops to choirs and choral societies wishing to improve their performance and technical knowledge.