Author Archives: Jonathan Draper

Susan Young – Soprano

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Susan YoungRaised in Northumberland with qualifications from the Universities of Durham and London and Trinity College of Music, Susan is a versatile singer winning critical praise for her strong dramatic sense and rich, warm sound.

Her operatic roles include Katya (cover)/The Passenger (English National Opera), Second Niece (cover)/Peter Grimes (English National Opera), Caterina/L’amico Fritz, Micaëla/Carmen (Opera Holland Park), La Comtesse/Le Count Ory, Lucy/The Telephone (New Chamber Opera) and in scenes, Anne Trulove/The Rake’s Progress, Pamina/Die Zauberflöte and Helena/A Midsummer Night’s Dream (New Chamber Opera).

An integral part of the group of musicians who founded the now internationally renowned Oxford Lieder Festival, Susan possesses a diverse, extensive song repertoire, including new, commissioned works and has sung at venues including HM Treasury, Handel House Museum, Leighton House, London; Holywell Music Room, New College Chapel and Jacqueline du Pre Hall, Oxford. Having enjoyed collaborating with pianists such as Julius Drake, Iain Farrington, Alisdair Hogarth and Sholto Kynoch, she is delighted to establish a new duo partnership with Ben Dawson.

Susan is a regular soloist with the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford performing works including Bach St John Passion, St Matthew Passion and Mozart Requiem. Other notable concert appearances are Mozart Mass in C Minor, Beethoven Mass in C, Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, Dvorak Te Deum, Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony, Dona Nobis Pacem, Tippett A Child of Our Time and Orff Carmina Burana.

www.susanyoungsoprano.com

August 2012

Helena Dix – Soprano

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Helena DixAustralian Soprano Helena Dix completed her post-graduate Opera Programme at the Royal Academy of Music on the ABRSM scholarship in 2005, where she studied with Elizabeth Ritchie and was supported by the Josephine Baker and Countess of Munster Trusts.

In a single year she won several prestigious opera competitions and was a finalist in the McDonalds Aria held at the Sydney Opera House and won the Nino Sanciolo scholarship to further her studies in Italy. Helena has also been successful in many competitions in London and sang in the finals of the ‘Songmakers Almanac’, the Opera Rara Bel Canto prize, Blyth Buesst Opera Prize, Clonter Opera prize and the Richard Lewis competition. Helena was also very proud to be the Australian representative in The BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2005. Most recently, in December 2011, Helena won 1st prize as well as the audience prize in the Bayreuth Wagner Bursary Competition Finals.

Helena’s operatic repertoire includes Cis Albert Herring, Blonde Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Carmen and La Bohème, Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro and Felice School for Fathers by Wolf-Ferrari. She also worked with Opera Australia in La Bohème and Der Rosenkavalierunder Simone Young and Paul Kildea. Other roles in Opera Tableaux have included Erste Dame Die Zauberflöte, Fiordiligi Cosi fan tutte, title role Thais, Madama Butterfly, Mercedes Carmen, Elvira Ernani and Violetta La Traviata in Academy Opera Tableaux. Helena sang 1st Lady Die Zauberflöte conducted by Sir Colin Davis and directed by John Copley and Noémie in Massenet’s Cendrillon. In the summer of 2005 Helena appeared as Li-Li in Jonathan Dove’s Greed for the Glyndebourne young artist project Dovetales. For Scottish Opera Helena has covered Frasquita Carmen and Karolina in The Two Widows, and has performed Rosalinde Die Fledermaus and covered/sang Hanna Glawari The Merry Widow for Scottish Opera Go Round. Helena also covered the title role Ariadne auf Naxos for Garsington Opera, and recently appeared as Fiordiligi Cosi fan tutte for The Opera Project.

In Australia, Helena sang the role of the Angel in Handel’s cantata La Resurrezione and made her debut with the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic in Handel’s Messiah, receiving critical praise for her performance, and returning as soloist in several performances of Messiah, Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor and Carmina Burana. In London, concert engagements include Messiah, Petite Messe Solennelle by Rossini, Mozart Coronation Mass in C, Elijah, Oratorio de Noel by Rheinberger, Christmas Oratorio by Saint-Saens and Brahms Requiem and Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs with the Cambridge String Players. Further concert engagements include her debut at both St. James Piccadilly singing Mozart’s Mass in C minor and at The Royal Albert Hall in Carmina Burana with Concerts from Scratch, conducted by Brian Kay, Haydn’s Creation at St John’s Smith Square, Mozart Requiem in Knightsbridge, Verdi Requiemat the Royal Albert Hall, Elijah at Dorchester Abbey, Beethoven 9th Symphony for the RPO, Exsultate Jubilate in Guildford Cathedral, Verdi Requiem in Beckenham and in Gloucester Cathedral, Faure Requiem at St Paul’s, Knightsbridge, and Creation at the Dartington International Summer School with Sir Charles Mackerras.

Recent engagements include Flowermaiden Parsifal for English National Opera, Messiah (Keele), Verdi Requiem at the Barbican Centre, War Requiem at Ripon Cathedral, Brahms Requiem (Woking) and Donna Anna Don Giovanni for The Opera Project. Highlights of the 2011/2012 season include her appearance with Opera in the Alps (Melbourne), Creation in Guildford Cathedral, Nella Gianni Schicchi for Opera Project, Vier letzte Lieder (High Wycombe), and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the English Concert Singers.

April 2012

Ben Johnson – Tenor

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Ben JohnsonBen Johnson quickly established himself as one of the most exciting tenors of his generation. He studied with Neil Mackie and Tim Evans Jones at the Royal College of Music Benjamin Britten International Opera School. Winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Awards in 2008, he is also a prizewinner at the Wigmore Hall International Song Competition and the Gerald Moore Awards (singer’s prize). Currently studying with Jeffrey Talbot, he is a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist in 2010-2012.

His recent opera engagements include Nemorino The Elixir of Love for English National Opera, Don Ottavio Don Giovanni for Opéra National de Bordeaux, Bénédict Béatrice et Bénédict for Chelsea Opera Group, Shepherd and Sailor in concert performances of Tristan und Isolde with the CBSO, Novice in Michael Grandage’s new production of Billy Budd at Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Copland’s The Tender Land at Opéra de Lyon and productions for Scottish Opera and the Classical Opera Company.

On the concert platform Ben Johnson has sung Messiah with the Academy of Ancient Music and the English Chamber Orchestra, Samson with the English Concert at the BBC Proms, Elgar Caractacus at the Three Choirs Festival, Mozart Requiem with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Mozart concert arias, Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Rückert Lieder and Frank Bridge with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Britten Our Hunting Fathers and Strauss Lieder with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Les Illuminations with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, Evangelist in St Matthew Passion with Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, Haydn Paukenmesse and Britten St Nicolas Cantata at De Doelen in Rotterdam. He has worked with conductors including Sir Mark Elder, Andris Nelsons, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jiří Bělohlávek, François-Xavier Roth, Nicholas Kraemer, Thomas Dausgaard, Francesco Corti, Rory Macdonald, Leo Hussain, Richard Egarr and Harry Bicket.

In recital he works regularly with Graham Johnson. They performed together at the Wigmore Hall, the Ruhr Klavier Festival in Germany, Aldeburgh Music, and have recorded songs by Poulenc for Hyperion records and Britten for Onyx. He also works with Roger Vignoles, Malcolm Martineau, and James Baillieu. In 2011/12 season, he has sung Britten Canticles at deSingel, Antwerp with Roger Vignoles. He has also appeared at City of London Festival, Rosenblatt Recitals, Kings Place, Lake District Summer Music and a Kathleen Ferrier celebrations concert at the Wigmore Hall.

Highlights in 2012/13 season include Don Ottavio and Alfredo La Traviata at the English National Opera, Britten Serenade with the Residentie Orkest, and Tippett A Child of Our Time with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He will also return to Glyndebourne Festival Opera in the future seasons.

Ben Johnson is currently an ENO Harewood Artist and a Wigmore Hall Emerging Talent.

January 2013.

All Creatures Great and Small

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All Creatures Great and SmallAll Creatures Great and Small

On Saturday 18 October 2015, Woking’s Epworth Choir gave a concert at St Dunstan’s RC Church in Woking. The music was based on the theme All Creatures Great and Small – a celebration of nature in music. The choice of repertoire was varied and entertaining and was very enjoyable both for the audience and the performers.

The choir began with a selection of Old English Madrigals telling of animals and birds in stories and song. The choir members sang with beautiful tone and excellent diction and the audience were very appreciative.

The concert was conducted by the choir’s Music Director, Michael Waldron, and featured the soloists Augusta Hebbert, Jessica Dandy, Stephen Mills and Laurence Williams. They each sang individual solos which were warmly applauded. All four singers are young, very talented and the audience really enjoyed their performances.

They also sang the solo roles in the choir’s main work in the second half – Mozart’s Missa Brevis in C (“Sparrow Mass:), KV 220. This particular mass is not often sung in concerts and many of the audience members commented how much they enjoyed hearing it.

The choir also sang a variety of pieces by modern composers (Bob Chilcott, John Rutter and John Tavener) and the beautiful singing of all choir members showed off their ability to embrace a wide range of repertoire.

Our visiting instrumentalists were also young and very talented. We were delighted to welcome back organist Jeremy Cole who played JS Bach’s Pastorale F Major BMV 590 and once again impressed the audience with his skill. The Keats Quartet joined us for the first time and gave a beautiful rendition of Joseph Haydn’s String Quartet in D Major (“The Lark”).

Jeremy and the Keats Quartet also accompanied the choir for some of the pieces and we all enjoyed performing together.

The concert supported the vital work of the Woking and Sam Beare Hospices and a retiring collection raised over £365 for the Charity.

Gabriel Fauré: Requiem

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Faure RequiemGabriel Fauré: Requiem
Cantique de Jean Racine
Pavane

Woking’s Epworth Choir presented a ‘Celebration of French Music’ with works by Gabriel Fauré at Holy Trinity Church, High Street, Guildford on Saturday 18th April 2015. The concert, conducted by Epworth Choir’s Music Director, Michael Waldron also featured Gemma Summerfield, Mezzo Soprano, Laurence Williams, Baritone, Jeremy Cole, Organ and the Orchestra of the Pinnacle Ensemble.

The memorable performance of Gabriel Fauré’s enduring Requiem by the choir and orchestra was enhanced by the glorious singing of Gemma Summerfield, who stood in for Amy Lyddon at very short notice. The audience also very much appreciated Laurence Williams’ interpretation of three songs by Maurice Ravel and the Duruflé/Vierne organ solos performed in virtuoso style by Jeremy Cole. The choir’s performance of Cantique de Jean Racine and Pavanne completed a most enjoyable evening in celebration of French music.

The Concert raised £442 in support of the Royal Surrey County Hospital’s ‘Detecting Women’s Cancers’ Charity Appeal.

Family Christmas Concert

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Christmas Concert 2014Woking’s Epworth Choir performed their annual Family Christmas Carol Concerts at the HG Wells Centre, Woking on Saturday 13th December 2014. The Matinee Concert supported the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Evening Concert was in Aid of the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

This year’s Concerts, conducted by the choir’s Music Director, Michael Waldron, included the usual mix of carols old and new and there was plenty of opportunity for everyone to celebrate the festive season with the ever-popular audience carols.

Ballet dancersThe Epworth Choir were delighted to welcome to the Matinee Concert the young dancers of the Susan Robinson School of Ballet who have been well known to Epworth Choir audiences for many years. As usual they performed an exciting programme which created a truly magical Family Christmas atmosphere.

Royal Marines BandThe Epworth Choir were also delighted that the  Royal Marines Association Concert Band were, once again, the Guest Artistes at the Evening Concert. The Band, conducted by Major (Retd) AJ Smallwood, MA(Dist) PGDip(Adv) BMus(Hons) LRSM RM treated the enthusiastic audience to a programme of well known favourites and, with the Choir, led the singing of the audience carols. The evening ended with rapturous applause and everyone singing ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’

Epworth Choir are pleased to announce that the two Retiring Collections together, raised a total of £921 for the Charities.

Songs and Sonnets

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Songs and SonnetsWoking’s Epworth Choir presented ‘Songs and Sonnets’ featuring well-known Shakespeare Songs and Sonnets set to music by George Shearing and Bob Chilcott’s Songs and Cries of London Town at the H G Wells Conference & Events Centre, Woking, on Saturday 18th October 2014.

The Concert included Readings from Shakespeare by Sarah Gobran, a member of the Guildford Shakespeare Company. The Concert was the debut of Epworth Choir’s new Music Director, Michael Waldron and was accompanied at the piano by Laurence Williams and Cameron Michael WaldronRichardson-Eames. The Evening’s Performance was a Celebration of the 450th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s Birthday and the Concert, which was well received by an enthusiastic audience, proved to be a fitting tribute to the Bard !

A Retiring Collection raised £441 for Parkinsons UK.

Concert to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D Day

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D-Day ConcertWoking’s Epworth Choir performed a Concert to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D Day at Guildford Cathedral on Saturday 7th June. Among the large audience were the Mayor and Mayoress of Woking, Cllr and Mrs Branagan, The Mayor and Mayoress of Guildford, Cllr and Mrs Elms, four Chelsea Pensioners, D Day Veteran, Mr Renny Henrikson and WW II Veteran, Mr Ron Pearce ISM, County Treasurer for the Royal British Legion, Surrey.

The Concert, conducted by Matthew Willis, featured moving performances by the Epworth Choir and The Salomon Orchestra, of Vaughan-William’s, Serenade to Music and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, with soloists from the choir. Guest Artiste, Helena Dix, gave a memorable performance of Strauss, The Four Last Songs and The Salomon Orchestra received huge applause for Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Britten’s Four Sea Interludes. The programme of music had been selected to reflect the importance of the 70th Anniversary of D Day and was a fitting tribute to the occasion.

The Concert supported the vital work of the Royal British Legion, Surrey and a Retiring Collection raised over £850 for the Charity.

D-Day Concert - Solo

Audience Comments

‘A most Enjoyable Evening.’
‘The Choir was superb, culminating in a performance of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, sung in Hebrew – an enormous challenge which they conquered with ease.’
‘The Guest soprano, Helena Dix was a sheer delight to listen to.’
‘Overall, a masterful performance by the Choir’s Music Director, Matthew Willis.’

D-Day Concert - ConductorD-Day Concert - Chelsea Pensioners

Epworth Choir Events during 2014 include a concert at the HG Wells Centre, Woking, on Sat 18th October and the Choir’s Annual Charity Carol Concerts on Sat 13th Dec which will feature a return visit to Woking of the Royal Marine Concert Band at the evening performance.

Epworth Choir always welcome new members – please tel 01483 756670 or email  secretary.epworth@gmail.com

An Evening of Rodgers & Hammerstein

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An Evening of Rodgers and HammersteinWoking’s Epworth Choir presented ‘An Evening of Rodgers & Hammerstein’ – a selection of Popular Choruses and Solos, at the H G Wells Conference & Events Centre, Woking, on Saturday 1st March. The Concert was conducted by Matthew Willis and accompanied at the piano by Michael Waldron. The audience were entertained by the Choir who sang choruses from Rodgers & Hammerstein’ including South Pacific, Oklahoma, Carousel, The King & I, and The Sound of Music! with solos sung by members of the Choir. This proved to be the perfect opportunity to stroll down Broadway and enjoy an evening at the Shows!

The Concert supported the vital work of the local branch of The National Autistic Society and the Retiring Collection raised over £500 for the Charity.

Christmas Concert

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Christmas Concert 2013Woking’s Epworth Choir performed two Family Christmas Carol Concerts to large audiences at the  HG Wells centre, Woking on Saturday 14th December 2013. The Matinee Concert supported the Charity, Shooting Star CHASE Children’s Hospiceand the Evening Concert was in Aid of the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

As is customary, the Concerts, conducted by the choir’s Music Director, Matthew Willis, included the usual mix of carols old and new by the choir and the ever-popular audience carols.

This year the Epworth Choir were delighted to welcome to the Matinee Concert the young dancers of the Cremona School of Dance and members of Greenfield School Chamber Choir. Both groups performed very entertaining programmes which helped to create a truly magical Family Christmas atmosphere.

The Epworth Choir were delighted to welcome as Guest Artistes at the Evening Concert, the Royal Marines Association Concert Band conducted by their Director of Music, Capt. David Cole MVO, MMus, ARAM, RM. The Band performances of well-known Christmas music were nothing short of spectacular and left the enthusiastic audience demanding encores! We very much look forward to inviting the Band back to perform again with Epworth Choir.

The Retiring Collection for Shooting Star CHASE raised £481 and in the evening, £685 was raised for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust.