Watch the moment professional opera singer, left without work for four months by coronavirus impact, hits beautiful high note in Sheffield city centre

The impact of the coronavirus has left professional opera singer Nicola Mills without work for at least the next four months.
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And yet, in the face of uncertain times, she reveals she is not panicking.

Instead, she’s turning to her ‘gift,’ her music, to spread peace and happiness where it is needed.

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“Music is healing, light energy, it’s uplifting, and I just need to stand there and do it,” she said, as she belted out opera classics on Sheffield’s Fargate on Wednesday afternoon.

Professional opera singer Nicola Mills hits high note in Sheffield city centreProfessional opera singer Nicola Mills hits high note in Sheffield city centre
Professional opera singer Nicola Mills hits high note in Sheffield city centre

People can take from it what they want, but with all this fear going around, we need something to take people away from that, like those Italians singing on their balconies.

“If it puts a smile on somebody’s face, I’ve done my job, and I feel like I did that here in Sheffield today.”Nicola is a professional opera singer living in Hebden Bridge. She runs a company called ‘Opera for the People,’ and has written a Julie Andrews tribute show that was due to hit theatres nationwide, but has since been postponed, due to the coronavirus impact.

She was visiting Sheffield to work with charity Lost Chord when her engagement was cancelled, and she decided to bring her music instead to the city’s high street to lift spirits in the midst of a difficult time.

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“All my work has been cancelled for the next four months, I have no income, but I’m not panicking,” she said.

“No panic buying, no hoarding, we need to all stick together and stay calm. We’ll be okay.

“Before I head home today, I’ll be visiting Sheffield market to stock up on some food for dinner. It’s so important we’re all supporting local and independent businesses at the moment.”