BIOGRAPHY


Artiste: FIONA HARRISON Soprano, Costume Artist, Musical Actress, Variety Entertainer, Dancer, Host and Compère

Vocal Range: Soprano – Bottom F to Top F above Top C

Vocal Style: Light Operatic, Musical Theatre, Big Band and Swing, Close Harmony

Languages: French, Italian, German, Latin & Japanese

Equity Number: M00135181 (Full member)

Nationality: British

 

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Born in Yorkshire, Fiona began her theatrical career at an early age by attending local dancing classes. At five years old Fiona moved to Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire where she completed her education and performing arts studies in dance and drama. She embarked on her classical singing training at the age of sixteen under the expert watchful eye and ear of Pamela Prichard from the Royal Academy of Music, London and began her professional singing career in 1992.

Since those early days Fiona has proved herself time and time again to be an outstandingly talented and multi-faceted entertainer performing in all genres of the theatrical world. These have included dramatic roles; stand up comedy in the Joyce Grenfell vein, summer seasons, pantomime, musical theatre to operatic classical concerts plus a six month singing contract in Japan where it was necessary for her to learn to sing in Japanese. Fiona not only possesses a fine soprano voice, but has a rare gift for comedy which she uses to full advantage when performing in cabaret and hosting events.

Dubbed by one critic “A Voice in a Million” after her stunning performance in the touring stage musical “From Cobbles to Rock”, Fiona can effortlessly switch from Opera to Rock and Roll which very few singers can do convincingly. Today Fiona is best known on the re-enactment circuit for recreating the past though her beautiful costumes and for singing the music of yesteryear. With a repertoire second to none and a wardrobe most re-enactors would die for, Fiona Harrison has become a top headlining attraction at many heritage events throughout the country and Northern Europe covering a variety of different periods from the 1880s to the 1970s. These include Victorian/Edwardian Music Hall, WW1, the 20’s and 30’s, the Rock and Roll years of the 1950’s, 60’s and 70s and the period Fiona is best known for the 1940’s.

Fiona is able to work anywhere in the world bringing with her the very best in musical arrangements which are bespoke and arranged exclusively for her voice. Fiona’s trademarks are her superb medley arrangements and close harmony work. This she does by recording the harmony parts onto her backing track and then she sings the melody line live in performance making her act unique and unlike any other. With well over a thousand songs in her repertoire Fiona’s shows are always fresh and exciting displaying great skill and vocal variation from Marie Lloyd to Chuck Berry, Abba and beyond, all delivered with personality and very often with a cheeky smile and girlie wiggle!

Some of Fiona’s credits include working with “The George Thorby Glen Miller Orchestra”, starring in “You are my Hearts Delight” at Bexhill’s famous De la Warr Pavilion with “Opera South East”, Mabel in “The Pirates of Penzance”, Eliza Doolittle in “Pygmalion”, Beatrice in “Much Ado About Nothing”, the title roles of Gigi, Cinderella and national theatre tours in the 1940s musicals “We’ll Meet Again” and “How Hovis won the War”.

Fiona regularly visits France and she has been involved in the Normandy D-Day commemorations since 2004 performing at the British and American beaches Gold, Sword and Utah. For the 60th and 65th D-Day commemorations Fiona was invited to perform at “The American Gold Beach Museum” in Ver-sur-Mer and also at the “6th June Museum” in Arromanches.  Fiona has returned every-year since, performing at some of Normandy’s most prestigious D-Day events, singing in English and French for visitors and the British, and American Veterans alike. In 2019 Fiona opened the 75th D-Day Commemorations on Arromanches beach and also sang at Pegasus Bridge for Benouville’s 75th D-Day anniversary.

Fiona is no stranger to prestigious occasions. In 2005 she was invited to take part in The Jersey and Guernsey Liberation celebrations, which were attended by The Queen and Prince Philip. In  2014 the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were in attendance during Fiona’s performance in Arromanches which made up part of Normandy’s 70th D-Day Commemoration concert. Royal patronage continued in 2019 when Fiona was invited to perform at St James Palace. This was for a special commemorative dinner attended by The Princess Royal to mark the planting of a 1000 trees in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the Great War.

Other credits include Proms in the Park, The RAF Club Piccadilly, “Railway at War”, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering, “Salute to the 40s” The Historic Dock Yard, Chatham, The 40s Family Experience Weekend, Bushey, “The Shuttleworth Collection” WW1, Flying Proms and Vintage Air Shows, Victorian Steam Days” The Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Woburn Abbey Flower and Oyster Festivals, Tatton Park, “The Way We Were” 1950s and 60s event Wicksteed Park and “The Swinging 60s” Midland Railway event to name but a few.

In 2016 Fiona was invited to sing in Italy for Graffignana’s 1940s vintage festival. So successful was Fiona’s visit she returned the following year in 2017 to perform the music of the 1950s and 60s and twice in 2019.

Fiona regularly performs two hundred and sixty to two hundred and eighty shows a year travelling the length and breadth of the British Isles and Northern Europe. She has six CD albums to date and TV credits have included Meridian Tonight plus two appearances on BBC South East and Sky News.

During the 2020 Covid -19 pandemic Fiona cleverly remodeled her show, adapting it for families audiences and performed it as a series of Driveway concerts for local residence around her hometown of Leighton Buzzard and the surrounding villages. These performances were reported and later featured on BBC South East and the ITV News as part of the 75 VE Day commemorations at home.

In her spare time Fiona likes to keep fit, working out at her local gym, running, and attending local dance classes. Her hobbies include designing vintage dresses, millinery and making handbags. Her favourite pass times include visiting antique and vintage fashion fairs, admiring all things Art Deco, looking stylish, going out for afternoon tea and wearing the fashions of yesteryear!

In May 2012 Fiona was featured in The Stage newspaper as part of the Dear John column. To read the article click onto the picture below for an enlargement.

Fiona has since become a regular feature writer for the popular nostalgic monthly magazine the “Best of British” writing on a variety of music and fashion related topics connected with the 1940s and vintage scene. To read Fiona’s articles click through to her articles page where you can catch up on Fiona’s latest features. Fiona also keep a blog diary and has an every growing following through her Facebook, Twitter and social media pages.

PRESS QUOTATIONS

“Able to sing in six languages, she offered Puccini’s ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ in Italian and ‘Vilia’ in German, such items displaying considerable acting ability”

Barbara Champion — The Stage

“She quickly won the heart of her audience and captivated everyone with a variety of songs and Joyce Grenfell type sketches”

M. Sharp — Buckingham Advertiser

“Fiona’s Pitch is perfect”

Robin Duke — The Stage

“The range of voice and control required for The Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus was most impressive”

Barbara Champion — The Stage

“The audience rose to their feet and gave Fiona a standing ovation”

Judith Baker — Bucks Free Press

“A sweet clear voice, which soared through operatic arias singing them beautifully”

Susan Greenhaigh — Evening Gazette, Blackpool

“Harrison works with intelligence, good timing and humour”

Barbara Champion — The Stage

“Undoubtedly a voice in a million”

Phil Hewitt — West Sussex Gazette

“Lovely personality, a stickler for presentation. Spends time on preparation and when on stage – sets the room alight”

John Scott — Club Entertainment News, Birmingham

FIONA’S PAST PRODUCTIONS

Fiona Harrison is based in the Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire area but is willing to travel anywhere in the world. Fiona has worked extensively throughout the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, so please do get in contact no matter where you are for a straight forward quotation.