KARLENE MORENO-HAYWORTH SOPRANO
Karlene Moreno-Hayworth is a British–Filipino soprano, conductor, and arts leader whose career spans opera, concert, choral, and contemporary performance across the United Kingdom and Europe. Praised for her luminous lyric soprano, dramatic sensitivity, and compelling stage presence, she has established herself as a versatile artist equally at home in the operatic repertoire, symphonic concert platform, and innovative interdisciplinary works.
In the 2026 season, Karlene makes her role debut as Norina in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale for Opéra de Baugé in France. Her long-standing relationship with the company has seen her perform an extensive range of operatic roles including Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly), Despina (Così fan tutte), Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring), Clorinda (La Cenerentola), Cupidon (Orphée aux enfers), the Cretan Woman (Idomeneo), Page (Rigoletto), Mädchen (Alfonso und Estrella), and Papagena (Die Zauberflöte). Additional role highlights include Micaëla (Carmen), Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier), and the triple role of Feu, La Princesse, and Le Rossignol in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les sortilèges.
Karlene made her role debut as Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly in France in 2014 and later performed the role again on tour with Secret Opera, including performances at the Rose Theatre Kingston. She subsequently joined the Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose for their UK tour of Madama Butterfly, performing the roles of Cio-Cio San and Kate Pinkerton.
Her operatic appearances have included Suor Genovieffa (Suor Angelica) and Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) in Il Trittico at the King’s Head Theatre, Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) at Wilton’s Music Hall, Musetta (La Bohème) with New London Opera Players, Adele (Die Fledermaus), Mercedes (Carmen), and Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) with Brent Opera. She has also appeared as Marzelline in Beethoven’s Fidelio, Lola Markham in Gallantry, and the Governess in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw at the London Horror Festival. She created multiple roles in the world premiere of Christopher Bowers-Broadbent's contemporary opera The Face at Gray's Inn, performing Donna, the Female Officer, and Lisa Morritt
A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Karlene performed the principal soprano solo role in the world premiere of Jean-Jo Roux’s Cantique des Cantiques at Le Grand Théâtre d’Angers in France, accompanied by an ensemble of over fifty orchestral musicians, forty choristers, and dancers in a large-scale multidisciplinary production. She has also appeared in Clod Ensemble’s acclaimed contemporary work Silver Swan, featuring seven unaccompanied singers performing Paul Clark’s score at venues including Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, the V&A Museum’s Raphael Room, and McEwan Hall in Edinburgh.
On the concert platform, Karlene has appeared as soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah in Angers and Saumur with Choral Contrepoint, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the London Beethoven Project, Bruckner’s Te Deum with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, and Fauré’s Requiem with the Thurrock Choral Society. She has performed extensively with the Philharmonia Chorus at major venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, St Paul's Cathedral, and at the Rheingau Festival in Germany, as well as broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 from King’s College Cambridge.
Originally from Manila, Karlene was granted a full scholarship to the Philippine High School for the Arts as a voice major before she graduated Magna cum Laude from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor's degree in Music in Voice.
She continued her post graduate training at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and on the Advanced Performer's Studio opera course with The Associated Studios in London.
Her further studies and artistic development have included participation in the Rencontres Musicales Internationales in Belgium, Junge Oper Schloss in Weikersheim, Germany and Accademia Bel Canto in Austria where she performed in masterclasses led by legendary artists including Christa Ludwig and Angelika Kirchschlager.
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Karlene is a prize winner of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), recipient of the Gil Rodriguez Scholarship and a National Commission for Culture and the Arts grant, and has represented the Philippines internationally as a soprano soloist in Italy and South Korea. As a choral singer, she toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, and Asia, and was a soprano member of the a cappella ensemble that won the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in 2007.
Alongside her performing career, Karlene is deeply committed to arts leadership, mentorship, and representation in classical music. She is the founder of The Prism Voices Fellowship, an accessible yet rigorous solo vocal and ensemble leadership programme dedicated to cultivating artistic excellence, visibility, and opportunity within the UK’s choral and operatic sectors.
She is also the Founder and Conductor of Haraya Choir, the award-winning British–Filipino ensemble widely regarded as the UK’s premier Filipino choir. Under her leadership, the choir has earned major accolades and recognition for its artistry, cultural advocacy, and dynamic performances across the UK.
Alongside her conducting work, Karlene maintains an active career as a soloist, cantor, educator, and vocal mentor in London, working with singers of all ages through her private teaching studio.