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Caroline Slade (previously Challis) initially trained as a singer with teachers including Lynne Dawson and Cathy Pope, before being awarded the inaugural Sing for Pleasure Young Conductor Scholarship in 2013. Since then, she has trained in conducting through short courses and masterclasses with Sing for Pleasure, Association of British Choral Directors, the Royal Academy of Music, and most recently through the Royal Philharmonic Society Women Conductors Scheme. In 2018, Caroline was selected as one of 24 women to join the first Conducting for Opera short course at the National Opera Studio, receiving tuition from Sian Edwards, Jane Glover, Claire Gibault, Alice Farnham, Jessica Cottis, Natalie Murray-Beale, Mark Shanahan and Richard Hetherington.
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As a singer, Caroline has performed as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s St Paul, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, and Oliver Tarney’s Magnificat. She collaborated with composer Eve Harrison to premiere roles in Hera’s List (Terpsichore) for the Tête à Tête Festival and Opera Bingo (Sandra), which was shortlisted for the Opera Up Close Flourish competition. Caroline also performed at the 2015 BBC Proms in the chorus of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, with the Vienna Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle. She has sung with the Vigala Singers, including a residency at the Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary; with Sérafine Chamber Choir, who recorded Tarney’s Magnificat for Convivium Records; and with the Exonian Choir.
As a conductor, Caroline has worked with the English National Opera Community Chorus, the Opera North Youth Company and Children’s Chorus, and both Leeds and Bradford Cathedrals. She has assisted Eamonn Dougann for Ryedale Festival Opera at the Chiltern Arts Festival, and was Assistant Chorus Master at Opéra de Baugé for the 2014 season, where she was awarded the Gil-Rodrigues Prize. Caroline was previously Musical Director of the Greater Manchester Police Male Voice Choir, and has also founded a number of ensembles including Marlow Gospel Choir, Chiltern Community Choir, and Bradford Friendship Choir, a group for refugees and asylum seekers. As a conductor for the John Lewis Partnership Music Society, her regional choir won second place in the society’s national PartnerSing competition. At the World Choir Games in 2014, she assisted the Bradford Catholic Girls Choir in winning three bronze medals. In 2018, Caroline appeared in Sandi Toksvig’s show Mirth Control at the Royal Festival Hall as a guest conductor of the Women of the World Orchestra.
Caroline is also an experienced workshop leader and animateur, and has devised and led projects for Opera North Education, The Voices Foundation, Artis Education, and Aldeburgh Music amongst others. She was Musical Director for Mahogany Opera's 'Snappy Operas' Festival at Nevill Holt Opera in 2018, which brought together five primary schools to perform newly composed short operas. Caroline has led a series of communication workshops for the NHS Management Academy in Leeds, and has lectured in Music at the University of Leeds and the University of Reading, as well as being a Guest Tutor at Morley College. Caroline also has extensive experience in company and artistic management, having held post as Artistic Manager of Young Opera Venture from 2014-15, and Assistant Artist Manager at Hazard Chase from 2016-17.
Apart from music, Caroline is a keen sportswoman and currently rows with Marlow RC, which boasts such alumni as Sir Steve Redgrace and Naomi Riches MBE. Engagements for 2019/20 include a Christmas concert with the John Lewis Music Society at Cadogan Hall, a tour to Paris with Marlow Gospel Choir, and a recital of Scandinavian song with accompanist Jonny Lane.
As a conductor, Caroline has worked with the English National Opera Community Chorus, the Opera North Youth Company and Children’s Chorus, and both Leeds and Bradford Cathedrals. She has assisted Eamonn Dougann for Ryedale Festival Opera at the Chiltern Arts Festival, and was Assistant Chorus Master at Opéra de Baugé for the 2014 season, where she was awarded the Gil-Rodrigues Prize. Caroline was previously Musical Director of the Greater Manchester Police Male Voice Choir, and has also founded a number of ensembles including Marlow Gospel Choir, Chiltern Community Choir, and Bradford Friendship Choir, a group for refugees and asylum seekers. As a conductor for the John Lewis Partnership Music Society, her regional choir won second place in the society’s national PartnerSing competition. At the World Choir Games in 2014, she assisted the Bradford Catholic Girls Choir in winning three bronze medals. In 2018, Caroline appeared in Sandi Toksvig’s show Mirth Control at the Royal Festival Hall as a guest conductor of the Women of the World Orchestra.
Caroline is also an experienced workshop leader and animateur, and has devised and led projects for Opera North Education, The Voices Foundation, Artis Education, and Aldeburgh Music amongst others. She was Musical Director for Mahogany Opera's 'Snappy Operas' Festival at Nevill Holt Opera in 2018, which brought together five primary schools to perform newly composed short operas. Caroline has led a series of communication workshops for the NHS Management Academy in Leeds, and has lectured in Music at the University of Leeds and the University of Reading, as well as being a Guest Tutor at Morley College. Caroline also has extensive experience in company and artistic management, having held post as Artistic Manager of Young Opera Venture from 2014-15, and Assistant Artist Manager at Hazard Chase from 2016-17.
Apart from music, Caroline is a keen sportswoman and currently rows with Marlow RC, which boasts such alumni as Sir Steve Redgrace and Naomi Riches MBE. Engagements for 2019/20 include a Christmas concert with the John Lewis Music Society at Cadogan Hall, a tour to Paris with Marlow Gospel Choir, and a recital of Scandinavian song with accompanist Jonny Lane.
This biography was updated in February 2020. Please contact cjmc.slade@gmail.com for the most up to date version.
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