DAVID EARL - composer
Pianist and composer David Earl was born in Stellenbosch, South Africa. At 16 he broadcast a professional recital for the SABC, and a year later made his concerto debut with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra. He moved to London when he was 19, and while studying piano and composition at Trinity College of Music gave the first of a number of solo recitals at Wigmore Hall and broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. After seven years based in Oxford, he settled in Cambridge, performing, teaching piano and supervising Tripos composition students. In addition to music for solo piano, he has written eight Concertos for a variety of solo instruments, two Double Concertos for piano and violin, works for chamber ensemble, and orchestral compositions such as The Wineland Suite and seven commissioned ballet scores. He received a Gramophone Editor's recommendation rosette (May 2008) for the CD of the 1st Cello Sonata and Mandalas Piano Suite, and was nominated by International Piano magazine for best new music recording. In 2012 a setting of Rupert Brooke’s The Old Vicarage, Grantchester, commissioned by Dame Mary Archer to mark the poem’s centenary, was performed in Cambridge and Rugby. David previously collaborated with librettist Juliet Jenkin on Mary and the Conqueror, in which Alexander the Great and Mary Renault meet in the afterlife. Strange Ghost is his fourth opera.
Pianist and composer David Earl was born in Stellenbosch, South Africa. At 16 he broadcast a professional recital for the SABC, and a year later made his concerto debut with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra. He moved to London when he was 19, and while studying piano and composition at Trinity College of Music gave the first of a number of solo recitals at Wigmore Hall and broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. After seven years based in Oxford, he settled in Cambridge, performing, teaching piano and supervising Tripos composition students. In addition to music for solo piano, he has written eight Concertos for a variety of solo instruments, two Double Concertos for piano and violin, works for chamber ensemble, and orchestral compositions such as The Wineland Suite and seven commissioned ballet scores. He received a Gramophone Editor's recommendation rosette (May 2008) for the CD of the 1st Cello Sonata and Mandalas Piano Suite, and was nominated by International Piano magazine for best new music recording. In 2012 a setting of Rupert Brooke’s The Old Vicarage, Grantchester, commissioned by Dame Mary Archer to mark the poem’s centenary, was performed in Cambridge and Rugby. David previously collaborated with librettist Juliet Jenkin on Mary and the Conqueror, in which Alexander the Great and Mary Renault meet in the afterlife. Strange Ghost is his fourth opera.
JULIET JENKIN - librettist
Since graduating from the University of Cape Town’s drama school in 2003, Juliet has worked primarily in Cape Town as a playwright, actor and theatre-maker. Her plays include The Boy Who Fell From The Roof, Venom, More South African Deep Freezing, Mary and the Conqueror and Big Girl, which have been performed in South Africa and internationally. From 2010 to 2013, Juliet was an administrator, reader and editor for the Artscape Theatre’s New Writing Programme. Her current work includes writing a daily radio serial for the SABC.
Since graduating from the University of Cape Town’s drama school in 2003, Juliet has worked primarily in Cape Town as a playwright, actor and theatre-maker. Her plays include The Boy Who Fell From The Roof, Venom, More South African Deep Freezing, Mary and the Conqueror and Big Girl, which have been performed in South Africa and internationally. From 2010 to 2013, Juliet was an administrator, reader and editor for the Artscape Theatre’s New Writing Programme. Her current work includes writing a daily radio serial for the SABC.
DIONYSIOS KYROPOULOS - stage director
Dionysios began his study of stagecraft as a drama student at the Theatre of Changes drama school in Greece. In 2011 he started his academic research on acting for opera which he continued during his MPhil studies at Clare College, University of Cambridge, and is currently further developing as part of his doctoral studies at New College, University of Oxford. He has directed Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, Purcell’s The Indian Queen and Dido and Aeneas, and Cavalli’s Gli Amori d’Apollo e di Dafne at the Teatro Principal de Burgos, in Spain.
Other directing work includes Handel's Tamerlano, Partenope and Rodelinda, Pergolesi's Livetta e Tracollo, Molière’s comedy The Doctor in Spite of Himself, Timothy Kraemer’s children’s opera Ulysses and the Wooden Horse, Coward’s play Hay Fever, and Purcell’s The Prophetess. Future directing engagements include Blow’s Venus and Adonis, Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Handel’s Alcina. For more information please visit www.kyropoulos.com
Dionysios began his study of stagecraft as a drama student at the Theatre of Changes drama school in Greece. In 2011 he started his academic research on acting for opera which he continued during his MPhil studies at Clare College, University of Cambridge, and is currently further developing as part of his doctoral studies at New College, University of Oxford. He has directed Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, Purcell’s The Indian Queen and Dido and Aeneas, and Cavalli’s Gli Amori d’Apollo e di Dafne at the Teatro Principal de Burgos, in Spain.
Other directing work includes Handel's Tamerlano, Partenope and Rodelinda, Pergolesi's Livetta e Tracollo, Molière’s comedy The Doctor in Spite of Himself, Timothy Kraemer’s children’s opera Ulysses and the Wooden Horse, Coward’s play Hay Fever, and Purcell’s The Prophetess. Future directing engagements include Blow’s Venus and Adonis, Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Handel’s Alcina. For more information please visit www.kyropoulos.com
DOMINIC PECKHAM - music director
Dominic Peckham is regarded as one of the UK’s finest young, dynamic orchestral and choral conductors. Hailed as ‘one of the most exciting conductors of his generation’, he is also an ambassador of international renown for choral music through both performance and his extensive pioneering educational work. In addition to an impressive array of positions including Musical Director of London Oriana Choir, Artistic Director of the Royal Opera House’s ‘RM19’ Youth Chorus, Assistant Music Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Peckham is Artistic Director and Founder of educational initiative iSingUK and in 2014 was Guest Chorus Master at English National Opera. In Autumn 2015 Peckham appeared as a mentor on BBC 2’s “The Naked Choir with Gareth Malone”. Other recent highlights and upcoming engagements include a tour to Nairobi to launch Kuimba Pamoja – a Kenyan youth choir project; Guest Conductor for Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance; Chorus Master for Pete Townshend’s ‘Classic Quadrophenia’ at the Royal Albert Hall with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; several projects with the London Mozart Players; tours to Turkey, the Gulf & Far East; delivering various keynote speeches and presenting the Royal Opera House BP Big Screens 2015.
Dominic Peckham is regarded as one of the UK’s finest young, dynamic orchestral and choral conductors. Hailed as ‘one of the most exciting conductors of his generation’, he is also an ambassador of international renown for choral music through both performance and his extensive pioneering educational work. In addition to an impressive array of positions including Musical Director of London Oriana Choir, Artistic Director of the Royal Opera House’s ‘RM19’ Youth Chorus, Assistant Music Director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Peckham is Artistic Director and Founder of educational initiative iSingUK and in 2014 was Guest Chorus Master at English National Opera. In Autumn 2015 Peckham appeared as a mentor on BBC 2’s “The Naked Choir with Gareth Malone”. Other recent highlights and upcoming engagements include a tour to Nairobi to launch Kuimba Pamoja – a Kenyan youth choir project; Guest Conductor for Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance; Chorus Master for Pete Townshend’s ‘Classic Quadrophenia’ at the Royal Albert Hall with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; several projects with the London Mozart Players; tours to Turkey, the Gulf & Far East; delivering various keynote speeches and presenting the Royal Opera House BP Big Screens 2015.
VILOKINI GAIL ABBOTT - set designer
After a career as stylist, designer and author of over ten books on interior design, Vilokini Gail Abbott completed an MA in Fine Art Printmaking in 2014 at the Cambridge School of Art. Her MA project focused on moving photographic images of the hidden spaces of the ex Festival Theatre, built in 1815, which is now the Cambridge Buddhist Centre. Vilokini’s MA project culminated in an immersive sound and light installation in the theatre for two evenings in February 2015, as part of the Cambridge e-luminate Festival. Vilokini has curated exhibitions of painting, printmaking and photography in the foyer of the theatre for many years, and was artist in residence there from July 2014 to 2015. She was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Community in 2008.
After a career as stylist, designer and author of over ten books on interior design, Vilokini Gail Abbott completed an MA in Fine Art Printmaking in 2014 at the Cambridge School of Art. Her MA project focused on moving photographic images of the hidden spaces of the ex Festival Theatre, built in 1815, which is now the Cambridge Buddhist Centre. Vilokini’s MA project culminated in an immersive sound and light installation in the theatre for two evenings in February 2015, as part of the Cambridge e-luminate Festival. Vilokini has curated exhibitions of painting, printmaking and photography in the foyer of the theatre for many years, and was artist in residence there from July 2014 to 2015. She was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Community in 2008.
TRUI MALTEN - lighting designer
Trui Malten is an international lighting and set designer, working extensively abroad in the USA, Italy, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Rumania and lately in Estonia. She has designed the lighting for more than 120 productions of newly devised plays, classics, opera, musicals and dance, enjoying the hands on experience of experimental productions, as well as the larger scale of grand opera. On a number of occasions she has been asked to design both sets and lights, giving her the wonderful opportunity of a longer involvement in the inspiring collaborative process of developing a piece. Trui Malten is originally from the Netherlands. She holds an MfA from Yale University where she studied lighting design with Jennifer Tipton. She lived and worked in the US for fourteen- and in Italy for nine years. She recently moved to Cambridge, England with her family. Upcoming projects: March 2016 - sets and lights for Vanessa (Samuel Barber), directed by Judith Lebiez. April 2016 - assisting David Finn on the remount of Romeo and Juliette (Berlioz) by Sasha Walz at the Amsterdam Opera. October 2015 to November 2016 - assisting Christophe Forey on remounts of Norma (Bellini), starring Cecilia Bartoli in Zurich, Monte Carlo, Edinburgh, Paris and Baden Baden.
Trui Malten is an international lighting and set designer, working extensively abroad in the USA, Italy, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Rumania and lately in Estonia. She has designed the lighting for more than 120 productions of newly devised plays, classics, opera, musicals and dance, enjoying the hands on experience of experimental productions, as well as the larger scale of grand opera. On a number of occasions she has been asked to design both sets and lights, giving her the wonderful opportunity of a longer involvement in the inspiring collaborative process of developing a piece. Trui Malten is originally from the Netherlands. She holds an MfA from Yale University where she studied lighting design with Jennifer Tipton. She lived and worked in the US for fourteen- and in Italy for nine years. She recently moved to Cambridge, England with her family. Upcoming projects: March 2016 - sets and lights for Vanessa (Samuel Barber), directed by Judith Lebiez. April 2016 - assisting David Finn on the remount of Romeo and Juliette (Berlioz) by Sasha Walz at the Amsterdam Opera. October 2015 to November 2016 - assisting Christophe Forey on remounts of Norma (Bellini), starring Cecilia Bartoli in Zurich, Monte Carlo, Edinburgh, Paris and Baden Baden.
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'JAMES SCHOUTEN (Rupert Brooke)
High baritone James Schouten trained originally as a violinist, changing his focus to work primarily as a classical singer under the tutelage of Nan Christie at Goldsmiths where he completed his Bachelor's in Music in 2013. On the opera circuit, James has performed roles such as: Schaunard (La Bohème, Opera Gold, 2011), Demetrius (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Opera Gold, 2013), Angelotti (Tosca, Surrey Opera, 2014), Harlekin (Ariadne auf Naxos, Queen’s Opera, 2014), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte, Woodhouse Opera, 2014), Escamillo (Carmen, Barefoot Opera, 2014), Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro, Opera UpClose, 2014), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni, Opus Opera, 2015), Marcello (La Boheme, Dulwich Opera Company, 2015), Elviro/Ariodate (Xerxes, Hampstead Garden Opera, 2015) and Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus, Opera Gold, 2015). James has been performing and writing on the London circuit as a rock and jazz musician since 2008. He is involved with several rock and cross-over projects as orchestrator, musical director and performer.
High baritone James Schouten trained originally as a violinist, changing his focus to work primarily as a classical singer under the tutelage of Nan Christie at Goldsmiths where he completed his Bachelor's in Music in 2013. On the opera circuit, James has performed roles such as: Schaunard (La Bohème, Opera Gold, 2011), Demetrius (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Opera Gold, 2013), Angelotti (Tosca, Surrey Opera, 2014), Harlekin (Ariadne auf Naxos, Queen’s Opera, 2014), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte, Woodhouse Opera, 2014), Escamillo (Carmen, Barefoot Opera, 2014), Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro, Opera UpClose, 2014), Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni, Opus Opera, 2015), Marcello (La Boheme, Dulwich Opera Company, 2015), Elviro/Ariodate (Xerxes, Hampstead Garden Opera, 2015) and Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus, Opera Gold, 2015). James has been performing and writing on the London circuit as a rock and jazz musician since 2008. He is involved with several rock and cross-over projects as orchestrator, musical director and performer.
UTE LEPETIT-CLARE (Ruth Brooke, Chorus)
Ute Lepetit-Clare (mezzo) studied at the University of Music and Theatre, Leipzig and at the Liszt School of Music Weimar. During her studies she performed numerous roles at Schauspielhaus Leipzig, Hebbel Theater Berlin, Sorbischen Volkstheater Bautzen, and Theater Görlitz. She was engaged as soloist at Theater Eisenach and at Saxony Theatre, Dresden. She has also performed as guest soloist, including at the Rheinsberger Musikfestspiele, and the Wernigeroder Schlossfestspiele. Ute has performed more than 40 roles, which include many of the main mezzo-soprano roles such as Cherubino, Dorabella, Muse/Niklaus, Hänsel, Rosina, and Olga. Alongside her work in opera, Ute has also performed many concerts in some of Germany's most important venues, including in Gewandhaus Leipzig and Frauenkirche Dresden. Since 2010 Ute has lived in Cambridge, where she has continued her career as soloist and singing teacher. She works as German language coach for several choirs in Cambridge and London.
Ute Lepetit-Clare (mezzo) studied at the University of Music and Theatre, Leipzig and at the Liszt School of Music Weimar. During her studies she performed numerous roles at Schauspielhaus Leipzig, Hebbel Theater Berlin, Sorbischen Volkstheater Bautzen, and Theater Görlitz. She was engaged as soloist at Theater Eisenach and at Saxony Theatre, Dresden. She has also performed as guest soloist, including at the Rheinsberger Musikfestspiele, and the Wernigeroder Schlossfestspiele. Ute has performed more than 40 roles, which include many of the main mezzo-soprano roles such as Cherubino, Dorabella, Muse/Niklaus, Hänsel, Rosina, and Olga. Alongside her work in opera, Ute has also performed many concerts in some of Germany's most important venues, including in Gewandhaus Leipzig and Frauenkirche Dresden. Since 2010 Ute has lived in Cambridge, where she has continued her career as soloist and singing teacher. She works as German language coach for several choirs in Cambridge and London.
JESSICA LAWRENCE-HARES (Ka Cox, Chorus)
American mezzo-soprano Jessica Lawrence-Hares received her BM magna cum laude and her MM in voice performance from Boston University. A champion of new music, she has recently sung in premieres of Kate Waring’s operas Are Women People? (Mother) and Porcelain and Pink (Lois) and frequently features music by living and contemporary composers in her concerts. Other operatic roles include Mércèdes (Carmen) and Nicklaus (Hoffmans Erzählungen) with the Komische Kammeroper München, Lady with a Hat Box (Postcard from Morocco) and the Sea (Before Night Falls) with the Boston University Opera Institute and Mad Margaret (Ruddigore), the Third Lady (The Magic Flute) and Marcellina (The Marriage of Figaro) with the Cambridge Operatic Society. She has been featured soloist in performances of Aaron Copland’s In the Beginning and the Mozart Requiem in the Boston area and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Tuscany. Upcoming engagements include more recitals in Cambridge.
American mezzo-soprano Jessica Lawrence-Hares received her BM magna cum laude and her MM in voice performance from Boston University. A champion of new music, she has recently sung in premieres of Kate Waring’s operas Are Women People? (Mother) and Porcelain and Pink (Lois) and frequently features music by living and contemporary composers in her concerts. Other operatic roles include Mércèdes (Carmen) and Nicklaus (Hoffmans Erzählungen) with the Komische Kammeroper München, Lady with a Hat Box (Postcard from Morocco) and the Sea (Before Night Falls) with the Boston University Opera Institute and Mad Margaret (Ruddigore), the Third Lady (The Magic Flute) and Marcellina (The Marriage of Figaro) with the Cambridge Operatic Society. She has been featured soloist in performances of Aaron Copland’s In the Beginning and the Mozart Requiem in the Boston area and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Tuscany. Upcoming engagements include more recitals in Cambridge.
HAZEL NEIGHBOUR (Noel Olivier, Chorus)
Hazel Neighbour studied chemistry at Imperial College London but quickly realised she was much more at home on stage than in the lab. She moved into opera whilst studying with Wagnerian tenor, Howard Haskin, on her year abroad in Paris. She now studies privately with Sally Burgess at the Royal College of Music. Since moving back to the UK, she has performed regularly as a principal with small opera companies as well as in recital. Hazel’s roles have included Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel, Polly Peachum in Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera and Papagena in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Hazel has made a bit of a habit of doing contemporary operas in Cambridge, having played the lead in two world premieres of operas written by composer Kate Waring.
Hazel Neighbour studied chemistry at Imperial College London but quickly realised she was much more at home on stage than in the lab. She moved into opera whilst studying with Wagnerian tenor, Howard Haskin, on her year abroad in Paris. She now studies privately with Sally Burgess at the Royal College of Music. Since moving back to the UK, she has performed regularly as a principal with small opera companies as well as in recital. Hazel’s roles have included Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel, Polly Peachum in Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera and Papagena in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Hazel has made a bit of a habit of doing contemporary operas in Cambridge, having played the lead in two world premieres of operas written by composer Kate Waring.
SALLY CHENG (Gwen Raverat, Chorus)
Sally has recently graduated with a First in Musical Theatre from the Guildford School of Acting where she appeared in productions such as On the Town, Sister Act and The Addams Family. Whilst at school, Sally trained classically in singing, violin and piano and is delighted to return to her classical roots and be part of this exciting production.
Sally has recently graduated with a First in Musical Theatre from the Guildford School of Acting where she appeared in productions such as On the Town, Sister Act and The Addams Family. Whilst at school, Sally trained classically in singing, violin and piano and is delighted to return to her classical roots and be part of this exciting production.
VERITY RANSOM (Brynhild Olivier, Chorus)
Soprano Verity Ransom graduated from the University of East Anglia where she received her Bachelor Honours Degree in Music, and continued her studies at the University of East Anglia completing a Master's Degree in Performance Studies. As a soprano soloist, Verity has a varied repertoire ranging from opera and operetta to oratorio and madrigals. Verity has performed many works including Haydn's Little Organ Mass, Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate, Handel's Messiah and Charpentier's Messe de Minuit pour Noel. She has played the roles of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and has performed in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Mozart's Don Giovanni and Bizet's Carmen. Since graduating, Verity worked as a Workshop leader at Aldeburgh Education which led to working for Aldeburgh Music and performing a solo recital at the Aldeburgh Festival. Verity is currently preparing to train as a music therapist.
Soprano Verity Ransom graduated from the University of East Anglia where she received her Bachelor Honours Degree in Music, and continued her studies at the University of East Anglia completing a Master's Degree in Performance Studies. As a soprano soloist, Verity has a varied repertoire ranging from opera and operetta to oratorio and madrigals. Verity has performed many works including Haydn's Little Organ Mass, Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate, Handel's Messiah and Charpentier's Messe de Minuit pour Noel. She has played the roles of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and has performed in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Mozart's Don Giovanni and Bizet's Carmen. Since graduating, Verity worked as a Workshop leader at Aldeburgh Education which led to working for Aldeburgh Music and performing a solo recital at the Aldeburgh Festival. Verity is currently preparing to train as a music therapist.
GOITSEMANG LEHOBYE (Taatamata)
Goitsemang Lehobye was born in Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa, and first heard opera performed during a television broadcast featuring the South African Black Tie Opera Ensemble. After finishing school she followed her dream by joining the Ensemble's “Incubator” Scheme where she began learning the tools of the trade of being an opera singer. She worked her way from chorus member to ensemble and solo work and performed in a number of opera productions. In 2011 Goitsemang won a scholarship to study singing with Hanna van Schalkwyk and Prof Kamal Khan at the University of Cape Town’s College of Music. Productions include La Boheme, Postcards from Morocco, Don Giovanni and most recently, to great acclaim, Violetta in the joint UCT/Cape Town Opera production of La traviata. She has been an invited guest soloist in opera galas featuring Johan Botha and Neil Shicoff. In October she premiered a new song cycle by South African composer Bongani Ndodana-Breen performed with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Perry So.
Goitsemang Lehobye was born in Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa, and first heard opera performed during a television broadcast featuring the South African Black Tie Opera Ensemble. After finishing school she followed her dream by joining the Ensemble's “Incubator” Scheme where she began learning the tools of the trade of being an opera singer. She worked her way from chorus member to ensemble and solo work and performed in a number of opera productions. In 2011 Goitsemang won a scholarship to study singing with Hanna van Schalkwyk and Prof Kamal Khan at the University of Cape Town’s College of Music. Productions include La Boheme, Postcards from Morocco, Don Giovanni and most recently, to great acclaim, Violetta in the joint UCT/Cape Town Opera production of La traviata. She has been an invited guest soloist in opera galas featuring Johan Botha and Neil Shicoff. In October she premiered a new song cycle by South African composer Bongani Ndodana-Breen performed with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Perry So.
JONATHAN MILES (Geoffrey Keynes, Soldier, Chorus)
Whilst studying at Hills Road Sixth Form College, Jonathan became the frontman for a comedic pop/opera fusion band, and formed The Arrangement with other members from his music class. After making it through to the live finals of the fourth series of Britain’s Got Talent, the band continued to perform at various functions around the UK and abroad, including New Year’s
celebrations in Hong Kong. Whilst studying Genetics at the University of Manchester he was a member of the Chamber Choir, Ad Solem, performing regularly around the city and also touring Estonia. In addition he took two major roles in the Manchester Universities' Gilbert and Sullivan Society's productions of Patience and The Grand Duke, where he played Bunthorne and Ludwig respectively. Both productions were invited to perform at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, and as Ludwig, he won the award for Best Male Performer.
Whilst studying at Hills Road Sixth Form College, Jonathan became the frontman for a comedic pop/opera fusion band, and formed The Arrangement with other members from his music class. After making it through to the live finals of the fourth series of Britain’s Got Talent, the band continued to perform at various functions around the UK and abroad, including New Year’s
celebrations in Hong Kong. Whilst studying Genetics at the University of Manchester he was a member of the Chamber Choir, Ad Solem, performing regularly around the city and also touring Estonia. In addition he took two major roles in the Manchester Universities' Gilbert and Sullivan Society's productions of Patience and The Grand Duke, where he played Bunthorne and Ludwig respectively. Both productions were invited to perform at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, and as Ludwig, he won the award for Best Male Performer.
ROBERT HAYLETT (Dudley Ward, Frederick Kelly, Chorus)
Robert Haylett graduated in Music in 2014 from Girton College, Cambridge, where he was a choral scholar. During his studies, he performed choral works from Schütz to Stravinsky under conductors such as Sir Roger Norrington and Tim Brown, gave recitals of material from many parts of the repertoire (including Debussy, Beethoven, Gurney, Brahms, Eisler and Mozart), and received tuition from performers such as Julius Drake, Roderick Williams, Eamonn Dougan, Nicholas Mulroy and Andrew Kennedy. He has recently sung the roles of the Traveller (Curlew River, Britten) and Doctor P (The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat, Nyman), and created the role of the Israelite Father in Rhiannon Randle’s Temptations. Future projects include several performances of Gurney around Cambridge, a tour of France and Germany performing the St John Passion (JS Bach) with Phillip von Steinaecker, and continued work as a Lay Clerk at Peterborough Cathedral.
Robert Haylett graduated in Music in 2014 from Girton College, Cambridge, where he was a choral scholar. During his studies, he performed choral works from Schütz to Stravinsky under conductors such as Sir Roger Norrington and Tim Brown, gave recitals of material from many parts of the repertoire (including Debussy, Beethoven, Gurney, Brahms, Eisler and Mozart), and received tuition from performers such as Julius Drake, Roderick Williams, Eamonn Dougan, Nicholas Mulroy and Andrew Kennedy. He has recently sung the roles of the Traveller (Curlew River, Britten) and Doctor P (The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat, Nyman), and created the role of the Israelite Father in Rhiannon Randle’s Temptations. Future projects include several performances of Gurney around Cambridge, a tour of France and Germany performing the St John Passion (JS Bach) with Phillip von Steinaecker, and continued work as a Lay Clerk at Peterborough Cathedral.
PETER MARTIN (James Strachey, Denis Browne, Chorus)
Since completing his BA(Hons) at Leeds in Music, Peter works as a freelance musician teaching, performing and accompanying, and is a Lay Clerk at St Albans Cathedral. He runs choirs around Hertfordshire and plays trumpet, piano and bass guitar. Peter has attained the Toothill Performance and Lord Snowdon Awards. Stage roles in Leeds included The Beadle (Sweeney Todd); Man 1 (Songs For A New World); and Brian (Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens). He worked as vocal coach for Little Shop of Horrors and Jesus Christ Superstar. Peter played in the band for many shows, performed in showcases in the Leeds area and toured annually across Europe with the University Brass Band and Chamber Choir. Peter has performed in concerts with St Albans Cathedral and other Chamber Choirs. Recent roles: Damon (Acis and Galatea); Sebastian (Twelfth Night) and Filch (The Beggar’s Opera). Upcoming roles include Spoletta (Tosca) and Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi). pmartinmusic.wix.com/home
Since completing his BA(Hons) at Leeds in Music, Peter works as a freelance musician teaching, performing and accompanying, and is a Lay Clerk at St Albans Cathedral. He runs choirs around Hertfordshire and plays trumpet, piano and bass guitar. Peter has attained the Toothill Performance and Lord Snowdon Awards. Stage roles in Leeds included The Beadle (Sweeney Todd); Man 1 (Songs For A New World); and Brian (Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens). He worked as vocal coach for Little Shop of Horrors and Jesus Christ Superstar. Peter played in the band for many shows, performed in showcases in the Leeds area and toured annually across Europe with the University Brass Band and Chamber Choir. Peter has performed in concerts with St Albans Cathedral and other Chamber Choirs. Recent roles: Damon (Acis and Galatea); Sebastian (Twelfth Night) and Filch (The Beggar’s Opera). Upcoming roles include Spoletta (Tosca) and Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi). pmartinmusic.wix.com/home
JAMES QUILLIGAN (Jacques Raverat, Chorus)
Born near Cambridge, James Quilligan is a recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he studied with Robert Dean. He has performed at many prestigious concert venues across Europe including the Laeiszhalle (Hamburg), Salle Pleyel (Paris), Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Hall, and Bridgewater Hall and also at chamber venues such as the Wigmore Hall, St George’s, Hanover Square, and St Martin in the Fields. James has worked with many conductors including Daniel Barenboim, Gustavo Dudamel, Vasily Petrenko and Valery Gergiev with whom he performed Berlioz Roméo et Juliette as a member of the semi chorus, which is currently being broadcast across Europe on Mezzo TV. Recent roles have included Leporello (Don Giovanni) with Hampstead Garden Opera, and Count Almaviva and Antonio (The Marriage of Figaro) with GSMD. Last season James enjoyed working with Opera Holland Park in their production of Aida.
Born near Cambridge, James Quilligan is a recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he studied with Robert Dean. He has performed at many prestigious concert venues across Europe including the Laeiszhalle (Hamburg), Salle Pleyel (Paris), Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Hall, and Bridgewater Hall and also at chamber venues such as the Wigmore Hall, St George’s, Hanover Square, and St Martin in the Fields. James has worked with many conductors including Daniel Barenboim, Gustavo Dudamel, Vasily Petrenko and Valery Gergiev with whom he performed Berlioz Roméo et Juliette as a member of the semi chorus, which is currently being broadcast across Europe on Mezzo TV. Recent roles have included Leporello (Don Giovanni) with Hampstead Garden Opera, and Count Almaviva and Antonio (The Marriage of Figaro) with GSMD. Last season James enjoyed working with Opera Holland Park in their production of Aida.
SIMON BAINBRIDGE (Edward Marsh, Doctor)
Simon Bainbridge was born in Lancashire and studied singing privately in London. His teachers have included Denis Dowling and Kenneth Woollam. He was a member of the London Symphony Chorus for many years, singing with them in the UK and abroad, and making numerous recordings. He has a long association with Chelsea Opera Group, for whom he has sung many roles as well as writing programme notes and giving pre-performance talks. He has taken part in the UK stage premieres of many operas, among them Nielsen’s Saul and David , Prokofiev’s The Betrothal in a Monastery, Chabrier’s Gwendoline, Bruch’s Die Loreley and Verdi’s Oberto. Strange Ghost is his first operatic world premiere. He can be heard on the recording of Leonard Bernstein's Candide, conducted by the composer, and as A Lawyer on the recordings of Britten’s Peter Grimes conducted by Richard Hickox and Sir Colin Davis.
Simon Bainbridge was born in Lancashire and studied singing privately in London. His teachers have included Denis Dowling and Kenneth Woollam. He was a member of the London Symphony Chorus for many years, singing with them in the UK and abroad, and making numerous recordings. He has a long association with Chelsea Opera Group, for whom he has sung many roles as well as writing programme notes and giving pre-performance talks. He has taken part in the UK stage premieres of many operas, among them Nielsen’s Saul and David , Prokofiev’s The Betrothal in a Monastery, Chabrier’s Gwendoline, Bruch’s Die Loreley and Verdi’s Oberto. Strange Ghost is his first operatic world premiere. He can be heard on the recording of Leonard Bernstein's Candide, conducted by the composer, and as A Lawyer on the recordings of Britten’s Peter Grimes conducted by Richard Hickox and Sir Colin Davis.
YASHODAKA (Steward)
Yashodaka has been involved in music making since he was 7 years old. Initially taking up the violin, he played in orchestras very regularly till the age of 40, as well playing piano in big bands and jazz groups. Having become involved in Buddhism he realised that the piano was more important to him, and composing and playing in bands became a focus. These days he plays in jazz groups, sings in a local choir, and writes music for choir, chamber and jazz ensembles. Taking a small solo role in an opera is a new adventure for him.
Yashodaka has been involved in music making since he was 7 years old. Initially taking up the violin, he played in orchestras very regularly till the age of 40, as well playing piano in big bands and jazz groups. Having become involved in Buddhism he realised that the piano was more important to him, and composing and playing in bands became a focus. These days he plays in jazz groups, sings in a local choir, and writes music for choir, chamber and jazz ensembles. Taking a small solo role in an opera is a new adventure for him.