Graduate Scholars
Michael Alchin is a tenor based in Oxford. He works as a Lay Clerk with the Choir of New College, Oxford, and currently studies with Ben Davies.
Michael maintains a busy schedule as an ensemble singer and soloist, both with New College and as a freelancer. Past engagements include tenor soloist in ‘Triomphe et Mort des Rois’ with Ensemble Marguerite Louise and Gaetan Jarry, ‘Bach 1725’ with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and John Butt, and Evangelist in Bach’s ‘Christmas Oratorio’ (pts. I-III) with the Instruments of Time and Truth and New College Choir. Recently, he has toured to China and the United States, performing at venues such as St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York, and Beijing’s National Performing Arts Centre. Michael is looking forward to an engaging season with Ex Cathedra and expanding his musical portfolio, while collaborating with some of the best musicians in the UK.
Sarah Colgan is an Irish-Australian alto, conductor and educator based in the West Midlands. She graduated from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2025 with a First Class Honours in Vocal Performance, having also completed a second study in conducting. Following her degree, Sarah was selected as part of the 15th cohort (2025-2026) of Genesis Sixteen.
Outside of her performance career, Sarah is a Choral Director with the Birmingham Schools Singing Programme, where she plans and delivers weekly choral and melodica workshops to Key Stage 2 children and is passionate about applying her conducting and vocal expertise to her work with young singers. When not singing or on the podium, Sarah is often found hiking in the hills, on the volleyball court, or at her Karate dojo!
Sophie Henderson is a soprano, from Derbyshire, who has recently completed her final year of undergraduate studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where she studied singing under Catherine Benson and was generously supported by the Josephine Baker Trust. During her time at RBC, Sophie enjoyed roles in the Spring and Summer Operas and Opera Scenes, most recently Little Red Riding Hood in Sondheim’s Into the Woods, and several competition successes, including first prize in the Edward Brooks English Song Prize and third place in the Birmingham Festival Choral Society Oratorio Prize. In addition to her studies, Sophie is an experienced recitalist and oratorio soloist and sings with multiple choirs including: Ex Cathedra, with whom she is delighted to be continuing as a graduate scholar, the Birmingham Oratory, and St Phillip’s Cathedral, where she is a soprano Lay Clerk.
Alice Madden is a soprano from Manchester learning with Elizabeth Cragg. She graduated this summer with a Music degree from the University of Birmingham, and held a student scholarship with Ex Cathedra from 2024-26, performing with their main choir, Scholars Ensemble and professional consort as both an ensemble singer and soloist.
Whilst at university, Alice was a regular soloist whilst singing with Birmingham University Singers, Camerata, Liturgical Choir, University Chorus and the Baroque Orchestra. She also sings in the Birmingham Oratory Choir and loves working for Ex Cathedra’s Singing Medicine programme at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Alice is part of the St Endellion Summer Festival Chorus, performing in numerousoperas and oratorios including Britten’s Peter Grimes, Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. She is looking forward to joining the Genesis Sixteen and Vox Urbane Next Gen cohorts for 2026-27.
Aside from singing, Alice is a keen clarinettist, having studied at the Junior RNCM, and held the principal position of the University Symphony Orchestra.
Barney Stevens graduated in recent years from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and has been singing with Ex Cathedra for 2 years. He has also sung with the Birmingham Oratory choir since 2022, and has performed as a soloist with Halesowen Choral Society. He is a member of the new Hawthorn Consort, which had its first outing recently performing the music of Dowland with lutenist Elizabeth Pallett. Barney is very much looking forward to his year as an Ex Cathedra Graduate Scholar!
Barney is passionate about a wide variety of choral music, but particularly enjoys baroque programmes – his first one-off concert with Ex Cathedra was 2019’s performance of Bach’s B Minor mass, which he found tremendously exciting! He is also a keen horn player, and regularly performs with ensembles and dramatic societies around the Midlands and further. In his spare time Barney loves indoor bouldering, playing video games, and reading.
Student Scholars (enhanced)
Tom Hawkey-Soar is a Birmingham-based tenor currently studying for his MMus at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with Christopher Turner. He is a member of the National Opera Studio Academy 2025/26, and winner of the 2025 St Clare Barfield Rosebowl for Operatic Distinction.
Operatic highlights include Pluton in Offenbach’s Orphée aux enfers; Albert in Britten’s Albert Herring, praised as “triumphant” by Opera Magazine; and The Lover in Smyth’s Fête Galante. In summer 2026 he makes his debut as Tom Rakewell in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress with British Youth Opera. On the concert platform, Tom has appeared as tenor soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Messiah, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Bach’s St John Passion with Ex Cathedra; and as part of the premiere recording of Thomas de Hartmann’s Esther with the BSO under Kirill Karabits.
As a conductor, Tom recently led a new production of Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, and served as assistant conductor to both Harry Sever on Dido and Aeneas and Anthony Kraus on Into the Woods. Next season he conducts a double bill of Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and Donizetti’s Rita. He is supported in his studies by the generosity of Ms A. Dixon, the Lamport Hall Trust, and the Josephine Baker Trust.
Away from music, he can usually be found in the kitchen, on the squash court, or admiring modernist architecture while attempting to look inconspicuous.
William Swinnerton William Swinnerton is a baritone from Hampshire, about to embark on his 4th year at RBC under the tutelage of Christopher Turner. He started singing aged 9 as a chorister at Romsey Abbey, and was later a choral scholar at Beaulieu Abbey, a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and is now a bass lay clerk at St Chad’s Cathedral.
Away from choral singing, William is enjoying the start of his operatic career, with roles including Mr Gedge (Albert Herring), Pierrot (Fête Galante), Bob (The Old Maid and the Thief), Jupiter (Orphée aux enfers), and Rapunzel’s Prince (Into The Woods). William is very excited to be an Enhanced Scholar for his third season with Ex Cathedra and is thrilled to be singing the part of Christus in the Bach’s St Matthew Passion concerts in March 2027.
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Student Scholars
Evelyn Byford is a soprano entering her fourth year at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Originally from Hampshire, she has developed extensive experience as both a soloist and choral singer, performing with ensembles including the Rodolfus Choir, the Elgar Scholars, and the RBC Chamber Choir. She regularly appears as a guest soloist across the Midlands and most recently performed the role of the Shepherd in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s much acclaimed production of Tosca.
Her performances have taken her to prestigious venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Westminster Abbey, and Birmingham Town Hall. Evelyn began her musical training as a chorister at Winchester Cathedral, where she served as Head Chorister and took part in BBC broadcasts and professional recordings. During her final year of sixth form, she sang with Guildford Cathedral. She has also participated in courses and masterclasses with leading musicians including Anna Lapwood, Patrick Dunachie, and VOCES8.
Evelyn is looking forward to another exciting year ahead with Ex Cathedra.
Emma Kennedy is a 20 year old soprano, about to begin her third year of study at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under the tutelage of Anne Dawson.
In her first year at the Conservatoire, she won the Winifred Micklam Prize and Joyce Stanley Presentation Prize. Emma is a Soprano Lay Clerk at Birmingham Cathedral, as well as a member of the RBC Chamber Choir, with whom she was the soprano soloist in the premiere of Alec Roth’s ‘A Time To Be Born’. Back home in Wales, she has been a member of the National Youth Choir of Wales since 2022, and is now a Soprano Section Leader within the choir.
Emma thoroughly enjoys choral singing, and is thrilled to be able to sing with Ex Cathedra as a scholar for the 2026/27 season.
Jessica Johnson is a soprano from Dudley, going into her second year of undergraduate studies under Jonathan Gunthorpe at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Her love for choral music started four years ago, when she started a chorister at St Peter’s Church in Wolverhampton. In college, she started receiving voice lessons alongside piano and organ. Since starting at RBC, she has enjoyed singing as a Lay Clerk for St. Chad’s Cathedral, alongside supporting choral singing as a deputy for various churches and cathedrals as both an Alto and Soprano in the Midlands. With a keen interest in opera, recent engagements through the Conservatoire have included performing in an opera scenes as Cherubino, and assistant directing Sondheim’s Into the Woods.
Alongside her studies, Jessica enjoys teaching piano and singing in Andromeda, a new upper voices ensemble that she founded and directs.
Joshua Thompson is a Bass from Hampshire, currently studying Vocal and Operatic Studies at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. His love of singing began at the age of 7 years old when he became a chorister at Winchester Cathedral. He then went on to becoming Head Chorister at Romsey Abbey where he sang for BBC Songs of Praise, a Royal wedding and numerous professional level recordings. Joshua was a member of the National Youth Choir and recently performed at The Royal Albert Hall.
He is thoroughly enjoying his time in Birmingham, has sung in many concerts with The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Chamber Choir and recently performed in his first opera, Massenet’s ‘Cendrillon’. Joshua is thrilled to be involved with Ex Cathedra and the opportunities this will bring.
University of Birmingham Student Scholars
Kiara Fernando is a soprano from London, currently studying Law at the University of Birmingham where she holds a choral scholarship.
Her love of singing was inspired by frequent visits to the West End from a young age, and she continues to enjoy a wide range of musical styles. She was a member of Finchley Children’s Music Group, where she benefited from a broad range of musical opportunities, including singing the role of Purcell’s Dido in concert, and playing Gianetta in The Gondoliers and Max in Weber’s Der Freischütz. Kiara held a choral scholarship at St Jude-on-the-Hill Church under Nicholas Chalmers, where she developed a strong foundation in the Anglican choral tradition. She has performed on five European tours, singing in venues including St Mark’s Basilica in Venice and La Madeleine in Paris.
At university, she sings with Birmingham University Singers and previously explored Monteverdi’s Scherzi musicali with Early Music Vocal Ensemble. Outside of choral singing, Kiara is Music Director of the Uptone Girls, a competitive, all-female a capella group.
Annabel Ledgard is a mezzo-soprano and holds a choral scholarship at the University of Birmingham, where she is studying history. Her love of choral singing was ignited as a young child in the Ex Cathedra Academy of Vocal Music through which she embraced every opportunity from The Nutcracker, to making music videos, to singing with Ex Cathedra Choir.
Her soloist roles have included Liz Dilnot-Johnson’s When A Child is a Witness, with Sonos – the Midlands Chamber Choir, with the Heart of England Singers, and as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar (King’s High School). She was reserve finalist for BBC Songs of Praise Chorister of the Year (2023).
Annabel is particularly proud to have completed a successful traineeship with Ex Cathedra’s Singing Medicine team pursuing her passion for singing and wellbeing. She is also the voice of their mascot, Noah Bear.
Annabel studied with Katie Trethewey and now at university, with Mark Chambers. She is excited about the forthcoming choral scholarship opportunities, especially the Christmas by Candlelight series which she has loved ever since she was a young child.
Lucas Byng was first introduced to music as a chorister at Temple Church in London, where he sang almost every day from the age of seven until my voice changed at fourteen, giving him a strong musical foundation, introducing himto music theory, musicianship, and the history of the choral tradition, while also fostering lifelong friendships and a lasting passion for choral singing.
Lucas is currently studying Music at the University of Birmingham, where he sings with several of the university’s choirs. Alongside his studies, he is a member of the Elgar Scholars, a Birmingham-based chamber choir, and he continues to sing with the Temple Church Youth Choir.
Alongside Ex Cathedra, Lucas is also excited to be a member of the 2026–27 Genesis Sixteen cohort and is looking forward to continuing to develop as a singer and musician through new performance opportunities this coming season!
Ryan Evans is a 20 year old baritone from Swansea. He is currently studying physics at the University of Birmingham where he holds a choral scholarship. His love of singing began with musical theatre. He was a member of Class Act Theatre School (CATS) since 2016, where he played a variety of roles, notably Joseph in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’, and Javert in ‘Les Miserables’. While in sixth form college, he was a member of the Swansea Philharmonic Choir where he performed in works such as J.S Bach’s ‘St John’s Passion’ and Puccini’s ‘Messa di Gloria’. In 2024 he won the Dunvant Male Voice Choir Young Singer Award, and has performed as a soloist with both them and the aforementioned Swansea Philharmonic.
At the University of Birmingham, he sings with the University Singers. He is currently receiving singing tuition from Mark Chambers and was previously taught by Piran Legg. He also performed as the Sergeant in the Gilbert and Sullivan society’s performance of ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ in his first year. As well as singing, Ryan also plays the violin.
Thank you
Ex Cathedra would like to thank the individuals and trusts whose support makes the scheme possible this year, including: Claverdon Fields Charitable Trust, D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Fenton Arts Trust, Garrick Trust, Idlewild Trust, S&D Lloyd Charity, Scops Arts Trust, Thistle Trust, the private donors to our Alice Corser Fund, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the University of Birmingham.