We are delighted to announce that our 2018-19 Scholars and Student Scholars are:
Scholars
Ellie Sperling, soprano, graduated from Royal Holloway in 2017 with a first-class degree in Music. She is a choral scholar at St Martin-in-the-Field’s and part of the National Youth Choir’s Fellowship Programme. A previous member of Genesis Sixteen, she has sung with The Tallis Scholars and Tenebrae, and as a soloist at St John’s Smith Square, St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Exeter Cathedral. Ellie enjoys being an Arts Administrator at St Martin-in-the-Fields, and a Singer-Teacher with Pimlico Music Foundation.
Daniel Gethin, countertenor, began singing at Jesus College, Cambridge, before joining St John’s College, then becoming a lay clerk at New College, Oxford. With the choir he has sung as a soloist at the Wigmore Hall. He combines this role with the position of Singer-Teacher at St Gabriel’s, Pimlico, choral scholar with the Oxford Bach Soloists and freelance singing at several London churches.
Jack Granby, tenor, has recently joined the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace, having spent two years as a lay clerk at Magdalen College, Oxford. He is also enjoying an increasing number of solo opportunities, with recent engagements for Summertown Choral Society (Parry Centenary Concert), Magdalen College, Oxford (Haydn & Mozart concert) and Tredici Choir (Bach Magnificat & Mozart Requiem).
Alistair Donaghue, bass, started singing as a boy chorister in Northampton before joining the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. He has recently graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, studying Vocal and Operatic Performance. Alistair is a Lay Clerk at Birmingham Cathedral, and was an Ex Cathedra Student Scholarship in 2017-18.
Student Scholars (studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire)
Lily Allen-Dodd, soprano, returns having been a Student Scholar in 2017-18. She has completed her third year of study under the tutelage of Louise Crane and Paul Wingfield. In 2016-17, Lily was chosen to represent the Conservatoire at the Kathleen Ferrier competition for young singers. Roles in Conservatoire productions include Jemmy in Rossini’s William Tell, and Mrs Vixen and Jemmy Twitcher in Britten’s The Beggars Opera.
Imogen Russell, soprano, sang with the choir of Trinity College, Cambridge under Stephen Layton for 4 years. She sings with Polyphony and Illuminare. Solo performances include Monteverdi Vespers, Tarney Magnificat, Mozart, Haydn and Vivaldi with the Coventry Philharmonic Choir. She has performed Haydn Nelson Mass, and Mozart Requiem with the choir of St Mary’s, Warwick.
Gabriella Liandu is a Zambian-Scottish mezzo soprano. She is a member of the Conservatoire Chamber Choir and Camerata Choir directed by Paul Spicer, and the Gospel Choir led by Chalcedony Williams. Having also lived in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Gabriella has had a range of unique experiences and loves to delve into music from all angles. She looks forward to her penultimate year as an undergraduate, working with Welsh National Opera, and joining Ex Cathedra.
Charlotte Sleet, mezzo-soprano, studies with Louise Crane. Charlotte sings with St Chad’s Cathedral Choir and is an active participant in other choral projects in Birmingham, including ethereal Scandinavian music with Polaris Vocal Ensemble and contemporary music with Via Nova. Charlotte has recently returned from Italy with Renaissance ensemble L’Offerta Musicale di Venezia.
John Eclou, tenor. Born in Nigeria, John is currently studying at the Conservatoire. He is a member of the Conservatoire Chamber Choir, with whom he has performed a number of solos in concerts directed by Paul Spicer and Jeffrey Skidmore. John has performed roles in Conservatoire productions, most recently a staged performance of Monteverdi madrigals at the Crescent Theatre.
Andrej Kushchinsky, bass, has just completed his first year at the Conservatoire, studying classical and operatic singing under Christopher Turner. He sings with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, the Conservatoire chamber choir and Leicestershire Chorale. He has appeared as soloist on national radio and television, Lincoln jazz festival, and on choral tours of the UK, Germany and China.