"There is little doubt that one day, Durham will be dazzling us with vocal fireworks in the manner of Ann Hallenberg or Vivica Genaux" (Jacques Duffourg, Baroquiades)

Winner of the First Prize at the 10th Pietro Antonio Cesti Competition for Baroque Opera, and the Grand Prix of the 2019 Concours international d’interprétation de la Mélodie Française de Toulouse, Grace Durham was born in London. She began her studies as a linguist, graduating with a First-Class Honours Degree in French and Italian from Clare College, Cambridge. The recipient of an Independent Opera Voice Scholarship, she continued her training as a singer at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the National Opera Studio.

She was a member of the Junges Ensemble at the Semperoper Dresden, where her roles included Mercédès Carmen, Lucienne Die tote Stadt, Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro, Second Lady Die Zauberflöte, Flora Bervoix La traviata and Clare in the German première of Philip Venables’ 4.48 Psychosis.

An accomplished recitalist, particularly in 20th-century French repertoire, Grace Durham’s recital engagements include Ravel Shéhérazade at the Les Journées Ravel festival in Montfort-L’Amaury, Schumann Frauenliebe und -leben in St-Jean-de-Luz (where she was the recipient of the Grand Prix de l’Académie Ravel) and Sous le ciel de Paris, a cabaret recital celebrating Poulenc, Jean Cocteau and Edith Piaf, at the St James Studio in London. She has also performed in recital at the Opéra Grand Avignon and at the Semperoper Dresden, where she sang frequently in the Semper Soiree concert series. Her concert and oratorio appearances include Bach B Minor Mass, Christmas Oratorio, St John Passion and St Matthew Passion, Berlioz Les Nuits d’Eté, Duruflé Requiem, Escaich Visions nocturnes and Mozart Mass in C Minor.

Engagements lost to COVID-19 include the title role in Carmen (in concert) with the BBC Philharmonic, Kitchen Boy Rusalka for Garsington Opera at Wormsley and the 2020 Edinburgh Festival, The Child L’Enfant et les sortilèges for English National Opera, further performances as Clare 4.48 Psychosis at the Semperoper Dresden, and her recital début at the Opéra national de Bordeaux.

Her current engagements include Mercédès Carmen and Second Maid Elektra at the Théâtre du Capitole, Toulouse, and her recital debut at the Théâtre du Capitole, Toulouse. She also sings Chausson Poème de l’Amour et de la Mer with the Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz at the 2021 Festival Murten Classics, Handel duets with Dorothee Mields at the 2021 Güldener Herbst Festival and Ravel Shéhérazade with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra.
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Grace Durham continues her studies with Valérie Guillorit.