SARAH Ogden is a remarkable young singer and musician who is working hard to bridge the gap between music college and a life as a professional singer.

She takes another big step along that road next week when she heads the cast of other young singers in a professional opera production at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

Sarah, who is 28 and lives in Shelley, will play the Countess in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at the LBT next Friday, that’s February 22.

The performances are sung in English and are staged by a new company, Young Opera Venture which aims to offer opportunities for promising young singers, helping them to take that big step into the world of professional opera.

Sarah said: “This is a professional company which is very good at working with young singers.

“The Countess is a big role for a young singer so I’m really pleased. It’s a lovely role.”

She will have bags of support. Sarah is well known in the area for her musical talent. She’s played in a brass band, conducts two local choirs, has won the Kirklees Young Musician award at the Mrs Sunderland Music Festival and appeared as a soprano soloist with many local choirs. Expect the LBT to be packed with supporters.

“I grew up in the Holme Valley and went to Holmfirth High School,” said Sarah.

“My mum still lives in Brockholes and she is very musical. I’ve always had music in my life from a very young age.

“I started trumpet lessons with Philip Garlick when I was seven and when I was 13, I joined Hade Edge Band.”

Two years later, she was the band’s principal trumpet player. It’s also where Sarah met her husband, David Turnbull.

“He does project management for theatre sound and lighting,” said Sarah. “We met when we were both trumpet players. We both used to play with Hade Edge. David played soprano cornet.”

This is a family steeped in music on all sides.

“My sister, Debra plays flute and was a singer before me. She still sings and we do sing together. We sang at a family wedding recently.”

Debra lives in London these days so is not as involved in music in the area as she once was. But mum, Sue Ogden is a well-known figure on the area’s music scene.

“We’ve always had mum as a pianist for both of us,” said Sarah.

“She works for Kirklees Music School and at Honley Junior School. She also accompanies Huddersfield Singers.

Sarah is not far behind her in terms of commitments.

In addition to her own career as a singer, she gives vocal lessons and masterclasses, conducts both Hade Edge Community Choir and Denby Dale Ladies Choir and outside of her engagements with the Young Opera Venture, has quite a busy diary in the weeks ahead.

“I’m singing in Huddersfield Town Hall on May 18 at a mass ladies’ choir event being organised by Norman Mellor to raise money for Yorkshire Cancer Research,” said Sarah.

“Thom Meredith is conducting and Lynne Dawson who is an acclaimed soprano will also be singing. Lynne is head of vocal studies at the Royal Northern College of music where I did my masters degree.

“I’m really looking forward to that.”

But first is that big role, centre stage at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

“Young Opera Venture will, we hope, allow young professionals to bridge the gap between training at college and joining one of the country’s major companies, like Opera North,” she said.

“We’re also singing in English which we hope will appeal to younger audiences.

“I have certainly encouraged my singing pupils to come and see something which, for them, will be new and challenging.”

Young Opera Venture has been created by Leeds-based singing teacher Jane Anthony who is keen to build audiences for opera, particularly amongst the younger generations.

“There are several reasons for starting this company but developing new audiences amongst younger people is high on the list,” said Jane.

“Young people can be wonderfully open-minded and if they are introduced to opera, many will fall in love with it. It’s just about people being given the chance to listen to it.”

The other key priority is to give work to young singers, many of whom have spent years studying at college, only to find that their opportunities to perform are limited amid cuts to arts funding and the dominance of the pop industry. Sarah couldn’t be a better example.

Support her at the LBT next week. Tickets from the Box Office (01484 430528) or from www.theblt.org.