Shropshire born Soprano Joanna Cooke graduated from Cardiff University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Music degree, where she was awarded the David Lloyd Vocal Scholarship, before continuing her studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD). There, she completed a Master’s in Vocal Performance in 2021, followed by a Master’s in Advanced Opera Performance with Distinction in 2023 at the David Seligman Opera School. During her studies she was generously supported by the Prince of Wales Scholarship, the Leverhulme Trust Arts Scholarship, and the Jenkin-Phillips Scholarship, and was awarded the David Seligman Prize for Excellence.
While at the David Seligman Opera School, Joanna performed a wide range of roles including Frau Herz (Der Schauspieldirektor), Sister Constance (Dialogues des Carmélites), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro) and Woglinde (Das Rheingold).
In December 2022, Joanna made her debut with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra under the baton of Carlo Rizzi as Clorinda (La Cenerentola). She then went on to sing with the WNO chorus in their 2024 production and tour of Il Trittico.
Competition highlights include being a finalist in the prestigious Ian Stoutzker Vocal Prize (2023), a semi-finalist in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod’s International Voice of the Future competition (2024) and audience prize winner of the Bridgend Male Choir's Sapphire Bursary (2025)
Joanna made her professional debut in Germany for the 2025 season with Stuttgart Staatsoper, appearing in operas including Otello, Tosca, Death in Venice, Parsifal, and Der rote Wal.
Most recently Joanna returned to the UK to sing Norina in Don Pasquale with Surrey Opera.
Roles
Don Pasquale Surrey Opera
Norina
Der Schauspieldirektor David Seligman Opera School
Frau Herz
Dialogues des Carmelites David Seligman Opera School
Soeur Constance
La Cenerentola RWCMD Opera Gala with WNO Opera
Clorinda Orchestra with Carlo Rizzi
Die Fledermaus David Seligman Opera School
Adele
Le Nozze di Figaro David Seligman Opera School
Barbarina
La fille du regiment RWCMD David Seligman Opera School Opera Scenes
Marie
The Rake’s Progress RWCMD David Seligman Opera School Opera Scenes
Ann Trulove
Das Rheingold RWCMD David Seligman Opera School Opera Scenes
Woglinde
Trouble in Tahiti David Seligman Opera School production
Girl
The Merry Wives
of Windsor RWCMD PG Opera Scenes
Frau Fluth
Venus and Adonis RWCMD production
Venus
Chorus
Der Rote Wal Stuttgart Staatsoper
Bhatti and Bhatti
Otello Stuttgart Staatsoper
Verdi
Rusalka Stuttgart Staatsoper
Dvořák
The Gambler Stuttgart Staatsoper
Prokofiev
Death in Venice Stuttgart Staatsoper
Britten
Tosca Stuttgart Staatsoper
Puccini
Il Trittico Welsh National Opera
Puccini