Nobody inspired me more than Julie Andrews, who is a classically trained soprano herself.

Singing is an arduous business and it needs sacrifices.

I do hope that our spring will be starting shortly and we will all be able to enjoy some sunshine again.

That was when I realised that music is the most profound, magical form of communication there is.

It worries me that young singers think you can shortcut the training and go straight to fame and fortune, and programmes like Pop Idol have encouraged that.

There are a lot of unseen elements to having a successful singing career.

What people really should be able to be confident in is that the standards of music- making that classically trained musicians present is elite, it is the best and all of us as artists should be committed to that.