Debra trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow and gained a BA in Musical Performance and a diploma in Operatic Studies. She then joined the Ambrosian Opera Chorus in London, where she recorded the great works with leading conductors and orchestras. This included many appearances on Friday Night is Music Night on Radio Two with the Ambrosian Singers, as well as the Nigel Brooks Singers and the John McCarthy singers.
Interesting work in the UK has included a series of concerts with Patrick Moore, the astronomer, where Debra appeared as guest artist and sang many of Mr. Moore’s own compositions. Extensive work abroad has included Operas and Concerts in Dortmund, Zurich, Munich, Berlin, Luxembourg, Venice, Japan and Jerusalem. As a renowned oratorio specialist her repertoire includes The Creation (Haydn), The Messiah (Handel), Nelson Mass (Haydn), Petite Messe Solenelle (Rossini), Carmina Burana (Orff) and the Requiems of Faure, Brahms and Mozart. Her operatic roles include Susanna (Marriage of Figaro), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier), Queen of the Night (Magic Flute), Norina (Don Pasquale), Olympia (Tales of Hoffman), Despina (Cosi fan tutte) and Micaela (Carmen).
With Coro Cervantes Debra has performed in Spain, Mexico and Russia. She was featured soloist on Coro Cervantes’ first CD O Crux, which was voted Gramophone’s Critic’s Choice of the Year. As a session singer, Debra has recorded vocals for film soundtracks, CD library music, launch music for car companies and radio jingles. She was featured soloist during the opening and closing ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester with music especially commissioned for the occasion and also performed the vocals for the soundtrack for the Beijing Olympic Torch Ceremony in London.
As an adjudicator, Debra was invited to the International Singing Competition of Trujillo, Peru where she also gave masterclasses to singers from around the globe. For further information please visit www.debraskeen.co.uk