A LIVERPOOL choral singer has been awarded a top scholarship to help her pursue her dream of becoming an opera singing scientist. Young opera star, Meriel Cunningham, from Blundellsands, has been given a choral scholarship to St John’s College, Oxford.

It means the 18-year-old soloist will be vocally trained as she studies for a chemistry degree.

Meriel, who is in the sixth form at Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School, said: “It’s the best of both worlds. The choral scholarship means I get free singing lessons, I will be invited to perform at college functions and will be able to join the Oxford University Operatic Society, where Dame Janet Baker made her debut.”

Meriel was advised to train as a professional singer at 13 when she joined Liverpool Cathedral Choir.

She said: “Cathedral organist Ian Tracey advised me to go professional but I didn’t want to forsake my academic studies too early, especially considering how hard I have worked throughout my school career, but I certainly intend to apply to the Royal Academy to study opera after my chemistry degree.”

Meriel practises singing for 10 hours each week and aspires to follow in the footsteps of her heroines Maria Callas and Dame Kiri te Kanawa.

She said: “I love performing and I love opera and I’d love to the play the role of Carmen.

“My friends are incredibly supportive. They all think it is fantastic that I have this ambition, and they understand when I say I can’t go out because I have to practise. That said, I still go out and love dancing to music in the charts like any other teenager.”

Mrs Louise Robinson, the school’s headmistress, said: “Meriel has a fabulous voice and a wonderful natural talent which she is taking great care to develop.

“Not only is she a wonderful singer, but she is also a skilled academic and a model pupil, popular among her peers, the staff and all the younger girls at Merchants’ as well.”

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