Queen’s Birthday Honours For Opera Singers

Huge congratulations to opera singers soprano Cheryl Barker and baritone Peter Coleman-Wright for being awarded honours in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2015.

Ms Barker was made an Officer (AO) in the General Division “for distinguished service to the performing arts as an operatic soprano, as a mentor and role model, and through fundraising support for educational opportunities for the next generation of opera singers.”

Peter Coleman-Wright was also made an Officer (AO) in the General Division “for distinguished service to the performing arts as an operatic baritone, as a mentor and role model for young singers, and through fundraising support for opera companies.” 

Cheryl Barker has been memorable as Mimi, Cio-Cio San, Salome, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, Tosca, Emilia Marty in The Makropoulos Case and the roles created by Janacek. She has sung in the major opera houses and recital halls of the world and has an extensive discography. She won Green Room and Helpmann Awards for her portrayal of Salome. 

Peter-Coleman Wright has performed the major roles of the baritone repertoire in opera and recital around the world. He premiered the role of Harry Joy in Brett Dean’s opera Bliss. Other roles include Figaro, Scarpia, Marcello, Sharpless, Don Giovanni, Onegin, Dandini, Billy Budd, Germont and Sweeney Todd. His numerous awards include Helpmann Awards for Todd and The Traveller (Death in Venice), Green Room awards for Billy Budd, Orestes, and Harry Joy. He has recorded extensively and has performed in the United Kingdom for the Royal Opera, the English National Opera, the Aldeburgh Festival and Glyndebourne. In January 2015 he sang the role of Pietro Fléville (Andrea Chénier) for The Royal Opera with Jonas Kaufmann as Chénier .