BIOGRAPHY
Valérie Saint Martin is a French musician who is highly skilled in both classical and modern genres. She is best known for her captivating opera singing and masterful harp playing. Her voice is warm, expressive, and powerful, with Falcon-like qualities. When she plays the harp, her sound has an almost piano-like quality.
Valérie was born in Paris and grew up in the Pyrenées. She developed a passion for music at a young age and began playing the harp at the Music Conservatoire of Pau.
Valérie made her professional singing debut as a chorus member of the Theatre Musical de Paris. There she had the opportunity to work with conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, John Elliot Gardiner, Simon Rattle, and Antonio Pappano.
Operatic roles performed include Dido in Dido & Aeneas, Flora in Traviata, Mercedes in Carmen, Marcellina in Le Nozze, Maddalena in Rigoletto, and Zita in Gianni Schicchi.
“...Valerie St. Martin’s velvety voice is a delight to listen to...” — Edinburgh News
“...beautiful Marcellina of Valerie Saint Martin...” — Le Quotidien de Paris
“...a superb Carmen with a warm generous voice ideal for the role...” — Nouvelles Hauts de Seine
Valérie has sung at the Edinburgh Festival and toured worldwide with the Queen Elizabeth. She has also given recitals in France and London, notably at St James, Piccadilly, and Wilton Music Hall.
Valérie is passionate about teaching and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with aspiring musicians. Additionally, she is an arranger and composer interested in minimalism and film music. She has published harp arrangements, including Satie's Je te Veux, and Edith Piaf's La Vie en Rose. Her first released composition, The Lady of the Underworld, is modern. Recently, Valérie has started experimenting with singing and accompanying herself at the harp.
Valérie's singing teachers and coaches include Robert Massard, Malcolm King, Rita Loving, and Janine Reiss. During her harp studies, she regularly attended Gargilesse Summer Courses under the late renowned French harpist Pierre Jamet. She has won Gold Medals for opera, harp, and chamber music performances.
