_edited.jpg)
Biography
My Story: Summary
Beginnings: I completed my training (MMus, Grad. Cert. Theatre Studies) in New Zealand in 2016, where I had been establishing a busy performing and teaching life. The next step was to explore the possibilities overseas and to take charge of developing a fulfilling and rewarding career.
Taking flight: In 2017, I moved to Paris on the au pair programme - studying French and working in childcare. I continued to study singing privately, began networking and performing in France, and became fluent in French. I faced some huge challenges, but continued to work towards my dreams.
Building: At the end of 2018, I moved to London as a professional nanny. During this time, I really began to build. I knew for sure that singing was to be my primary focus, but I also knew that I had a passion and talent for educating and promoting classical music. I completed a business qualification, developed my first recital in line with my vision, and prepared to re-start my career.
Now: I am classical contralto singer, writer, and business owner with renewed vision, passion, and projects - and a whole lot more life experience!
Bio In Detail
Kayla Collingwood completed a Master of Music in Classical Voice at the University of Auckland in 2016, under the supervision of Dr. Morag Atchison and Dr. Gregory Camp. She previously held a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland and a Graduate Certificate in Theatre Studies from the University of Waikato.
Upon completing her postgraduate qualifications, she moved to Paris as an au pair. Here she worked with private teachers and coaches and began to establish herself as a singer, performing as a soloist in oratorio and recital performances. She moved to London in 2018, where she continued to sing alongside her work as a professional nanny, studying privately with Della Jones and Alexander Ingram.
She returned to France in 2020, where she re-lanced her professional singing career and founded Sound Garden (www.soundgardenclassical.com) - a classical music immersion business, combining her skills and passion for education and classical music. Kayla is also a writer, having published three collections of poetry, and collaborating with composers to create texts for vocal works.
Her attraction to opera and the world of classical singing was sparked on a school music trip at the age of 16, during which she saw New Zealand Opera’s 2008 production of Janáček's Jenůfa. She was a member of the Freemasons NZ Opera Chorus since 2014, also performing the role of the Third Boy in the company's 2016 mainstage production of Mozart's The Magic Flute.
She has performed with many organisations as a soloist in operatic productions, oratorio, and other events. Kayla was a 2015 finalist in the NZ Aria competition and the 2016 Napier Aria, and has been successful in a number of competitions around New Zealand. She is an alumna of the NZ Opera School (2015 and 2016) and the NZ Singing School (2013). Kayla was a 2016 recipient of the Anne Bellam Scholarship, and a 2015 recipient of a Freemasons University Scholarship and the John Arthur Langdon Scholarship in Music.