Miriam Richardson

When she was seventeen, Miriam sang a rhythm and blues number to open a Special Olympics Games. She was later advised to enter the 1997 music festival in order to develop an ability to sing other kinds of music, and to join a choir. To her surpise, she won the operatic aria class just two weeks after joining the Lydian Singers. In 1999, she won the North mixed duet class at music festival and performed the role of 'Liu' in Lydian Singers production of Turandot in 1999.

A capacity to sing jazz has led her to sing with Raf Robertson and Pamberi Steel. In addition, her classical jazz version of 'Summertime', sung at the Rex Grenadian Hotel in May 1999, was very well received by the audience.

Whitney Houston, Leontyne Pryce, Jessie Norman and Rachel Farrel are among her favourite singers, and through Pat Bishop and the Lydians, she continues to learn a great deal which will serve her for life.