short vita

After a long international career as coloratura soprano soloist I am now happy to be focusing my time and energy in Berlin on educating the next generation of professional singers.

Vocal soloists have to be consumate artists, masters of music, words and movement.
The potential for collaboration within and between faculties at the UdK makes it an exciting place for students and staff alike. 
Collaborations with students from my class include projects with fashion designers, conductors, set designers, fortepianists, composers and of course instrumentalists.

I have had the greatest fortune to work with some of the most dedicated and distinguished musicians in the world in a wide range of musical styles and genres and have recorded over 50 cds with major labels.  A lot of my work was performing in pioneering concerts and recordings, bringing fresh insights to oratorio and particularly baroque repertoire with leading ensembles.  A recording of Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress” for Deutsche Grammophon in which I sang the role of Anne Truelove won a Grammy Award and a recording of Mendelssohn Bartholdy's “Midsummer Night's Dream” with Claudio Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker are just a couple of notable highlights.  

My operatic career began at Glyndebourne and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and took me all over Europe and as far as the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and Sydney Australia. In Germany I was a regular guest at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich and at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin.  

My pedagogical approach combines up to date scientific research and an in depth knowledge of historical performance practice with the invaluable practical experience accrued singing a wide range of vocal repertoire over many years.

I have given masterclasses and taught on residential courses in Italy, Austria, Japan, England, Belgium, Singapore and in Germany, most recently working on Handel’s “Giulio Cesare” as vocal coach at the Barock Vokal Akademie in Mainz 2026.

Current students of mine are to be heard singing at major venues with leading conductors and ensembles such as Deutsche Oper, Deutsche Sinfonieorchester,  Konzerthaus Berlin, Elbphilharmonie, Staatstheater Meiningen, Staatsoper Wien and at opera Studios in London, Wien and Nürnberg.

If you are interested in studying with me please feel free to drop me a line at d.york_ @udk-berlin.de