Mezzo soprano Ailsa Mainwaring graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2012 with Distinction in her Masters. She then trained on the prestigious opera course at the Guildhall School, in receipt of a full scholarship and generous funding from the Royal Masonic Trust, the D’Oyly Carte Trust, and others. Ailsa gained a wealth of onstage experience at Guildhall, and graduated with a departmental prize for achievement.

Ailsa has performed for some of the UK’s leading and most innovative opera companies. These include Wexford Festival Opera, Garsington Opera, Mid Wales Opera, Pop-Up Opera, The King’s Head Theatre London, and her own Manchester-based pub opera company Pint-sized Opera which provided opportunities for other young singers.

Ailsa is passionate about breaking down the socio-economic barriers surrounding music education, and is thrilled to be working now in several London schools. Ailsa’s other interests are folk and community music, and music making with people living with dementia.