Liverpool singer who went on to sell out shows around the world

A Liverpool singer nurtured her passion for opera and went on to perform sell-out shows all over the world.

Rachel Hartland is a classically trained soprano, having studied the craft as a postgraduate in Musical Theatre at Central School of Speech & Drama and in Opera at Flanders Opera Studio.

Her love for art came at the age of 16 when her first experience with opera was delivered via her school teacher. Rachel told the ECHO: "I got into singing from singing in the Liverpool Youth Choir and my school choir. I was introduced to Gilbert and Sullivan by my singing teacher and that's where it all began."

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A friendly introduction would soon spiral into Rachel diving head-first into the world of music. As a singer, she performed in Belgium, U.K, Australia, U.S. and Canada as a recitalist and for opera companies including Opera Holland Park, Carl Rosa Opera, Royal Opera La Monnaie and The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company.

Despite her around-the-world ventures and stardom, Rachel returned home and is currently a singing teacher at Liverpool University and an English coach at The International Opera Academy in Ghent. She's now taking her talents and hoping to inspire a new generation of singers by delivering an opera boot camp to help young people find their voice.

The five-day programme is designed to be an enjoyable and stimulating experience, involving various elements of preparing for a performance, which then helps the children develop transferable skills such as team building, cooperation and self discipline.

Speaking about the boot camp and her own musical journey in Liverpool, she added: "So many elements