Rowan Pierce is a British soprano who has quickly established herself as one of the most exciting young artists in the classical music world. Born in 1993 in the town of Middlesbrough in the northeast of England, Pierce grew up in a musical family and began singing at a young age. She attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where she studied with Mary Plazas and graduated with a first-class honours degree in 2015. Pierce's career began to take off in 2016, when she won the prestigious President's Award at the Royal College of Music's annual competition. This led to a series of high-profile engagements, including performances at the Wigmore Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in London. In 2017, she was named a BBC New Generation Artist, a program that supports young musicians in the early stages of their careers. This brought her even more attention and led to performances with some of the UK's leading orchestras, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. One of Pierce's most notable performances to date came in 2018, when she sang the role of Pamina in Mozart's opera The Magic Flute at the Glyndebourne Festival. The production was widely praised for its innovative staging and Pierce's performance was singled out for particular praise. The Guardian called her "a radiant Pamina, with a voice that is both pure and expressive," while The Times described her as "a star in the making." Pierce has also been recognized for her work in the realm of early music. In 2019, she won the prestigious Handel Singing Competition, which is dedicated to the music of the Baroque composer George Frideric Handel. This led to a series of engagements with leading early music ensembles, including the Academy of Ancient Music and the English Concert. Despite her young age, Pierce has already amassed an impressive discography. In 2018, she released her debut album, titled Come, Ye Sons of Art, which features music by Henry Purcell. The album was widely praised for Pierce's "crystalline" voice and her ability to convey the emotional depth of the music. She has also recorded several other albums, including a collection of songs by Franz Schubert and a disc of Handel arias. Looking to the future, Pierce shows no signs of slowing down. She has a busy schedule of performances and recordings planned for the coming years, including appearances at the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms. With her stunning voice and natural stage presence, she is sure to continue to captivate audiences around the world for many years to come.

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