Linda Sherratt

Linda was born in Blackpool. She made her first solo singing performance at the age of 3 years.  Growing up Linda attended Sunday School and Church at Chapel St. Methodist Church where her singing ability was encouraged.  She was a member of the Junior Choir and at weekends, when Rev J T Twinning (accompanied by his donkey) prepared to preach the Gospel to people on the beach, Linda sang solos which drew the crowds before the preaching began. In those early years performing as a soloist and playing roles in the annual pantomimes was a major part of her life.  

 

From the age of 12 - 21 years she spent 20 weeks of the summer months each year, performing in the 'Tower Children’s Ballet' as principle singer, with audiences of 1000’s in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.  This show lasted for 60 minutes and performances were Monday to Saturday with a matinee each Saturday.

 

In her teens Linda performed in the first three recordings of Junior Showtime - broadcast on Yorkshire television, Jack Wild featured in one of these programmes. Her singing teachers in the early years were Gwendolyn Moss. Gwen Davies (Palatine School) and Audrey Brierley.

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In 1969, Linda sang on a record made to commemorate the official opening of the New Palatine School.  

 

Linda won the prestigious Rose Bowl at the Blackpool Musical Festival as well as many other prizes when competing in local Music Festivals.  

 

In 1977, Linda trained as a registered nurse and then qualified as a midwife in 1981.  During this time she continued to sing with the Blackpool Ladies Choir and the local Gilbert and Sullivan Society performing the lead soprano roles including a special performance of the Mikado as Yum Yum with Thomas Round performing the role of Nanki Poo.

 

Linda's classical training began in earnest at the Royal Northern College of Music where she won several prizes including the Isobel Baillie award for sopranos, the John Ireland Song Competition and the Shawcross Singing Prize.  She obtained a PPRNCM (Professional Performer's Diploma of the RNCM). 

 

Her studies continued in London where she studied with Elizabeth Hawes at Trinity College of Music:  she won the French Song prize and was runner up in a prestigious intercollegiate music competition representing Trinity along with the other London Music Colleges.  She was awarded a FTCL (Fellowship of Trinity College of Music London) before moving on to study at the Opera School at the Royal College of Music with Graziella Sciutti, where, as a major prize winner she was chosen to sing in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

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Operatic roles include: Countess (Figaro), Mimi (La Bohème), First Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Massenet's Manon, Desdemona (Otello) and Aïda (Verdi). 

 

Other advanced diplomas include: ARCM. Opera (Associate of the Royal college of Music for Opera), ARCM (Associate of the Royal College of Music).  LRAM (Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music).

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Linda has performed widely in oratorio and concert recitals including a televised performance of Handel’s Messiah broadcast from Liverpool Cathedral and has sung the soprano solo in the Verdi Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall. She has given recitals in the Fairfield Halls Croydon, St James’s Piccadilly, St Martin in the Fields, the Wigmore Hall and Winchester Cathedral and has performed the Strauss Four Last Songs.

 

April 1993, after completing her full time musical education, Linda decided to carry on with her singing as well as re-commencing work as a midwife at King's College Hospital. Soon after starting there, she was tasked to develop a specialist service to support mothers and families who were suffering pregnancy loss.  This service thrived and she continued to provide specialist care in this sensitive field for the next 12 years.  During which time, she studied successfully for a BSc Hons degree in Midwifery and was also awarded a King's commendation.  

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Linda was given a prestigious leadership award.  One of the first practitioners in the UK to acquire the City & Guilds Senior Award for Leadership in Midwifery (MCGI (Member of City & Guilds Institute), Masters equivalent) and was described as a a true inspiration to others in her field and who has demonstrated vision, commitment, leadership qualities in the drive to make a real difference to the care of patients in her community, 

 

Linda combined her singing whilst working as a Patient Safety Manager for Maternity at King's College Hospital, London.  On May 31st 2023 she retired from work after 30 years.

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In November 2023 Linda recorded music at Crownlane Studios to dedicate to her beloved sister-in-law who sadly died a year ago.  The music will be released on Jane's birthday, 6th January, to share with all who would like to listen.

The album is named "You Raise Me Up"

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