Visiting Research Fellowship in the Creative Arts, 2025-26

While some details of next year’s programme remain to be determined, the College is pleased to announce the following appointments:

For Hilary Term 2026

Héloïse Werner. Héloïse is a celebrated soprano and composer, and founding member of the award-winning quartet, The Hermes Experiment. She is currently an Associate Artist at Wigmore Hall. Her debut album, ‘Phrases’, was released in 2022 on Delphian Records, and quickly garnered widespread critical acclaim. Héloïse’s second album, ‘close-ups’, was nominated for the BBC Music Magazine Awards 2025 in the Vocal Category. As a composer, Héloïse has written for, amongst others, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Maîtrise de Radio France, Manchester Collective, the London Handel Festival, St Paul’s Cathedral, the violist Lawrence Power, and the pianist Mishka Rushdie-Momen. During her fellowship she will compose a new work for vocal quintet and cello trio, which will be recorded in Merton Chapel. As well as offering workshops, classes, and talks, she plans to organise several concerts in college. Further information may be found at heloisewerner.com

For Trinity Term 2026

Claire Booth. Claire is a leading soprano and academic, renowned for her musicianship and extraordinary breath of repertoire encompassing Handel and Monteverdi, through Rossini, Berg and Britten to a fearless commitment to the music of the present day. She is the recipient of this year’s highly prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Singer Award. Performances include appearances at ROH, ENO, WNO (for which she won Best Actress at the Welsh Theatre Awards), LA Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewanthaus and the BBCProms. She has given close to 100 world premieres by composers including George Benjamin, Elliot Carter, Harrison Birtwistle, Oliver Knussen and Helen Grime, and her extensive discography includes lieder by Grieg, Mussorgsky and Schoenberg. She is a director of the Composition and Performance course at Britten Pears Arts and contemporary opera coach at RAM. Her academic work has focussed on opera in English translation, and whether it remains an effective means of popularizing the art form within the UK; presenting her findings to the Arts Council. During her fellowship she will examine arias for the soprano voice in modern opera with the aim of producing a recording and annotated songbook in collaboration with Schotts Music and the BBCSSO. She will also conduct masterclasses and arrange recitals. More information may be found at www.claire-booth.com.