Joanna Scarlet Cooke

Shropshire-born soprano Joanna Cooke is a young lyric soprano whose repertoire encompasses both opera and concert performance internationally.

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Joanna graduated from Cardiff University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Music degree, where she was awarded the prestigious David Lloyd Vocal Scholarship. She subsequently continued her studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, completing a Master of Arts in Vocal Performance in 2021 before graduating with Distinction from the David Seligman Opera School’s MA in Advanced Opera Performance in 2023. During her training 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 in recognition of her outstanding achievements.

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Whilst at the David Seligman Opera School, Joanna performed a diverse range of operatic roles, including Frau Herz in Der Schauspieldirektor, Sister Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro, and Woglinde in Das Rheingold.

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In December 2022, Joanna made her debut with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra under the baton of Carlo Rizzi, performing the role of Clorinda in La Cenerentola. She later joined the Welsh National Opera chorus for their 2024 production and tour of Il Trittico, gaining valuable experience within one of the UK’s leading opera companies.

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A passionate competitor, Joanna has enjoyed success in several prestigious vocal competitions. She was a finalist in the Ian Stoutzker Vocal Prize (2023), a semi-finalist in the International Voice of the Future competition at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (2024), and was awarded the Audience Prize at the Bridgend Male Choir Sapphire Bursary Competition (2025). In summer 2026, she returns to the Llangollen International Eisteddfod to compete once again in the International Voice of the Future competition.

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A significant recent chapter of Joanna’s career has been her professional work in Germany. During the 2025 season she joined the ensemble at the Stuttgart State Opera, making her German debut and performing in a wide range of productions, including Otello, Tosca, Death in Venice, Parsifal, and Der rote Wal. Working within one of Europe’s foremost opera houses provided invaluable experience of the German repertory system and allowed her to collaborate with internationally renowned conductors, directors, and artists across an exceptionally broad repertoire.

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Most recently, Joanna returned to the UK to make her role debut as Norina in Don Pasquale with Surrey Opera, earning praise for her spirited and engaging portrayal. She returns to Surrey Opera in summer 2026 to reprise the role, with the production touring to the spectacular open-air Minack Theatre in Cornwall.