Latest News


  • Soloists announced for Saul on Saturday 23 November
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  •  Date Posted: Tue, 15 Oct 2024

    We are pleased to announce our soloists in Saul will be:

    Jane Burnell (soprano)

    Jane is a regular concert soloist, particularly for Baroque repertoire, performing with choirs and orchestras all across the UK. In 2021 and 2024 Jane performed as a soloist for The Great Yorkshire Proms across Yorkshire with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, alongside the likes of Sir Willard White and Aled Jones MBE.

    Robin Blaze (countertenor)

    Robin’s professional career has taken him across the globe, highlights including solo appearances with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne Opera and Welsh National and English National Operas. He has made well over 100 recordings as a soloist. Since 2016 he has been a member of the choir at Westminster Abbey, and sang at both the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the subsequent coronation of His Majesty King Charles

    James Savage-Hanford (tenor)


    James enjoys a varied career as a singer, conductor, and musicologist. Solo concert highlights include a performance of Mozart’s Requiem with the Brandenburg Sinfonia at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. As an ensemble singer, James has performed throughout the UK and across Europe with renowned groups such as the BBC Singers and the Academy of Ancient Music. James is also Musical Director of the Overgate Hospice Choir in Halifax, Cantores Olicanae in Ilkley, and Vocalis in Harrogate.

    Phil Wilcox (bass)


    Phil Wilcox is is a graduate of Leeds College of Music, a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music, and appears regularly as a concert soloist, opera singer, and professional chorister. He has recently performed as a chorister for Opera North, the BBC Singers and the Philharmonia Chorus; and as a soloist for Oxford Lieder and the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and New York. Oak. Phil is the Learning and Participation Manager for Leeds Lieder which involves coordinating and delivering an ever-growing programme of school and community projects.

    The roles they perform is as follows:

    Jane Burnell – soprano – Merab and Michal, daughters of Saul,
    Robin Blaze – countertenor – David
    James Savage-Hanford – tenor, Jonathan, Saul’s son, Abner, Captain of the Host, an Amalekite, Abiathar, a messenger.
    Phil Wilcox – bass - Saul

    They are joined by two of our members.


    Heather Marsh – WCS soprano – Witch of Endor
    Barrie Mortimer – WCS bass – apparition of Samuel, the prophet

    Rehearsals are going really well and t
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  • Welcome to our new Rehearsal Accompanist
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  •  Date Posted: Tue, 3 Sep 2024
    We are delighted to welcome William Campbell as our new Rehearsal Accompanist.

    Organist, Composer and Conductor William Campbell is currently Cathedral Organist at Leeds Cathedral. As part of this role, he is also Artistic Director of the Leeds International Organ Festival and a Keyboard Tutor for Diocese of Leeds Music’s Keyboard Studies Programme. Born in Croydon to parents of Caribbean descent, he initially started the violin aged 3 and subsequently took up the piano and trumpet. 
     
    Upon leaving school, William became the Organ Scholar at Guildford Cathedral. He graduated from the University of York with a first-class honours degree in Music in July 2023; during this time he held the posts of Director of Music at St. Helen’s Church, Stonegate in York and Interim Assistant Organist at Leeds Minster whilst deputising as an organist at all of Yorkshire’s Cathedrals. He then spent two terms as the Organ Scholar at Canterbury Cathedral before returning to Yorkshire in April this year.
     
    William played the Organ for the World Premiere recording of Song of the Prophets with the Chineke! Orchestra at St. Paul’s Cathedral in 2021 and performed Camille Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 (Organ) with them at the Royal Festival Hall in February 2024. He has appeared on BBC radio and television as an Organist, Violinist and Harpsichordist, is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and recently has been appointed an examiner for the ABRSM.

    We look forward to William's contribution to our rehearsals and hope this is the start of a long and fruitful collaboration.


     
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