About me
I’m a Danish/New Zealand soprano, based in Copenhagen. I recently completed the Young Artist Programme at the Royal Danish Theatre (Opera House), where I performed roles such as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte and Aase in Heise’s Drot og Marsk.
In 2023, I completed my Master of Music (MMus) with honours from the Opera Academy at the Royal Danish Theatre, studying under Professor Helene Gjerris. Before that, I earned my Bachelor of Music from the Royal Danish Academy of Music under Hanna Hjort, and spent a semester as an Erasmus exchange student at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg with Professor Yvi Jänicke. I’ve also been fortunate to learn from artists such as Anne Sofie von Otter, Bo Skovhus, Vivica Genaux, Carlos Mena, and Linda Watson.
My soloist debut with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra was in 2018, and I returned in 2024 to perform the soprano solo in Mahler’s Fourth Symphony. I look forward to returning as a soloist again in 2025. This year, I also made my solo debut at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich in a new production of Strauss’ Die Liebe der Danae and look forward to singing Barbarina in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro.
I made my operatic stage debut at the Royal Danish Theatre in 2023 as 5. Magd in Strauss’ Elektra, and have since performed roles such as the High Priestess in Verdi’s Aida; Una Amante, Suor Genovieffa, and Lauretta in Puccini’s Il Trittico; and the title role in the world premiere of Bent Sørensen’s Asle og Alida, for which Bachtrack described my performance as “a series of stratospheric pianissimi that took one’s breath away.”
Throughout my career, I’ve had the pleasure of working with orchestras and ensembles including Concerto Copenhagen, Copenhagen Philharmonic, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble MidtVest, Ensemble Storstrøm, The Royal Danish Orchestra, Jönköping Sinfonietta, the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra, Odense Symphony Orchestra, and Theatre of Voices. Upcoming engagements include debuts with Staatsorchester Stuttgart and the Spanish National Symphony Orchestra.
Chamber music is an essential part of my musical life. I perform regularly with my ensemble Trio Doré, alongside hornist Lasse Mauritzen and harpist Zachary Hatcher. My repertoire spans a broad range, from early music to contemporary works, and includes opera, oratorio, and lieder. I’m passionate about collaborating with living composers and look forward to premiering new works in Denmark and abroad.
I’ve been honoured to receive several awards and scholarships, including the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Talent Award and the Léonie Sonning Talent Prize. In 2024, I was named Talent of the Year by DR P2, Denmark’s classical music radio station. In 2025, I was awarded the title of Aalborg Opera Prize. Following my win at the first Langgaard Competition in 2021, I recorded my first album of Rued Langgaard’s songs with pianist Kristian Riisager, released by Dacapo Records and selected as Album of the Week on DR P2 in August 2024.
Listen to B. Sørensen’s ‘Asle og Alida’, live broadcasted on DR P2 24/5 2025 (I’m singing the role of Alida):
Click here to listen to my concert with Trio Doré, where music and interview are mixed, announcing me as ‘Talent of the Year’ on DR P2
About me
Louise McClelland is a Danish/New Zealand soprano (b. 1997) and currently a member of the Young Artist Ensemble at The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen.
In the summer 2023 she got her master’s degree from The Opera Academy at The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen with professor Helene Gjerris with top marks.
Louise had her musical upbringing in The Danish National Broadcasting Choirs from the age of 6.
In 2015 she was enrolled at MGK, a preparatory study for young music talents, with lector Hanna Hjort. She began her bachelor’s degree in 2017 at The Royal Danish Academy of Music with lector Hanna Hjort, and was admitted as an Erasmus exchange student at HFMT Hamburg with professor Yvi Jänicke in 2019.
Louise made her stage debut at the Royal Danish Opera as 5. Magd in Strauss’ Elektra in March 2023. In the 2023/2024 season she will sing the role of High Priestess in Verdi’s Aida and the role of Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at The Royal Danish Opera as a member of the Young Artist Ensemble. Louise’s artistic work already embraces an enormous range. She has big success in oratorios, operas and lieder – including the latest modern vocal repertoire.
She has engaged in masterclasses and received lessons by artists such as: Anne Sofie von Otter, Vivica Genaux, Carlos Mena, Audrey Saint-Gil, Bo Skovhus and coach Helmut Deutsch.
Louise debuted as a soloist with The Danish National Symphony Orchestra in 2018, and has later worked with orchestras such as Jönköpings Sinfonietta and Concerto Copenhagen and ensemble Theatre of Voices.
She won the first Langgaard Competition with pianist Kristian Riisager in 2021. She has also won first prize at The Danish National Youth Singing Competition in 2015 and 2019.
Grants received by
