Lloyd Newton names the people who have inspired him most

Marian Anderson

I first discovered this great lady when I was at Music College. Marian, an African American opera singer, was one of the world’s greatest mezzo contraltos. She rose to fame in a world where she was neither wanted nor appreciated and had much to endure, but her great voice won through. She broke the colour barrier and became the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She planted the seed of my wanting to do the best I possibly could regardless of my situation. This determination and courage I owe to her.

Willard White and Cynthia Haymon

I had the pleasure of working with Willard and Cynthia at Glyndebourne Festival Opera almost 25 years ago. Willard was directly responsible for bringing to my attention the ‘Porgy and Bess’ production at Glyndebourne: in 1986, after a singing lesson with him, he recommended that I go and audition for them. This was my first professional job as an opera singer in a world-class opera company. This experience of working with so many world-class black opera singers inspired me immeasurably and led me to eventually start my own opera company, Pegasus Opera. Cynthia Haymon, with her great singing and beautiful disposition, and Sir George Christie and family (who founded Glyndebourne Festival Opera) had a profound effect on me and allowed me to see what I could achieve with hard work and dedication.

Leontyne Price

The incomparable Leontyne Price – the voice of the century! Meeting her in Switzerland and then in London some years later were two of the highpoints of my life. Speaking with this statuesque and (I later discovered) noble Lady cemented my desire to help chisel a path for more BAME artists in the UK. Her voice ultimately gave me the love for my art; when I listen to her I am often transported to a place where I feel God resides and surely this voice can only be God given. My faith in Him has given me the strength and courage to embrace this path. Leontyne Price, among many others, has helped to carve out a path for African Americans in the world of opera in the USA and all over the world. I wanted to do something for BAME artists and for me in the UK, and this has led to my setting up Pegasus Opera Company, now in its nineteenth year and surviving against all the odds.

Alison Buchanan

She was 16 years old and singing at Glyndebourne Festival Opera, over 20 years ago when we became friends. She is now an international soprano and dear close friend who has been a pillar and inspiration. She is full of wisdom and more importantly, empathy. She has helped to make it all possible.