Frances Muir (married Suurd) was born in Halifax, England, on the 3rd of December 1994. Since early childhood, she was nurtured in the art of singing and piano at an early age by her grandmother, herself a distinguished music educator. Frances sang in choirs and played the piano and clarinet from a young age. In 2006, she was a part of the Northamptonshire Mass Choir who sang at the Junior Proms, hosted at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The following year, her family moved to South Africa, and her focus shifted from music to sports, representing KwaZulu-Natal province in swimming, lifesaving, and touch rugby. She attended Crawford College North Coast, where she participated in many musical events and performed in Little Show of Horrors and The King and I. Upon her matriculation with 5 distinctions, Frances was also awarded Sports Person of the Year and the Highest Overall Achiever in 2012.
In 2013, she began her studies at the University of Pretoria, studying BSc Biological Sciences and playing more sport, this time focusing on provincial touch rugby and Blue Bulls rugby 7's; being a member of 3 teams (university 7’s, provincial 7’s and provincial touch rugby) that won 3 national rugby championships in one year.
With a passion for both Music Therapy and the Performing Arts, Frances changed her major to focus on her passion of music. She studied under the tutorage of Dr. Hanli Stapela from 2014 and obtained her Bachelors-in-Music with distinction in 2018. During her years at the University of Pretoria, Frances performed several opera roles including, Thaïs (scene, Thaïs) and Zweite and Erste Dame (Die Zauberflöte). Noteworthy is her participation in the coro of a staged rendition of Bach's St. John's Passion with Umculo Oper in 2018, garnering international acclaim with two prestigious awards: 2019 International Opera Award: Outreach and Education and the 2019 Classical: Next Innovation. She also sang Gilda (scene, Rigoletto) and Giulietta (scene, Les contes d’Hoffmann) at the Monica Mhangwana Fundraiser.
Frances' international ventures have taken her to the stages of America and Europe. She has performed at the Taos Opera Institute and the Berlin Opera Academy, showcasing her versatility through roles such as Julie (Speed Dating Tonight), Zweite Knabe (Die Zauberflöte) and Ann Putnam (The Crucible). In 2020, Frances made recordings of Erste Dame and Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte) for the University of Pretoria Music and Enrichment Virtual Festival.
In September 2021, Frances graduated with her Masters-in-Music (Performing Art) with distinction. Following her academic achievement, Frances has been invited into the Golden Key International Honour Society with a lifetime membership.
Amidst the challenges posed by the global pandemic, Frances has remained steadfast in her dedication to her craft, honing her vocal technique under the tutelage of Daniella Halbwachs. In 2022, she performed the role of Contessa Almavira (Le nozze di Figaro) at the Estates Theatre in Prague during the Prague Summer Nights Music Festival. She also completed her Postgraduate Certificate in Education in 2022 and embarked on a music teaching career in Dubai. Despite a near 1 year break for health reasons, Frances has emerged significantly stronger and focused, and once again is awing crowds in public concerts and seeking to further her operatic career.
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