Dame Felicity Lott
Born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Felicity has lived in Sussex since 1980. After obtaining a degree in French and Latin at Royal Holloway College, she spent several years studying singing at the Royal Academy of Music before venturing into the wide world of opera and song. Music has taken her across the globe but she owes a great debt of gratitude to Glyndebourne Festival Opera, where she spent many happy years and where she first fell in love with the Sussex countryside. At Glyndebourne she discovered the operas of Richard Strauss, and sang the rôles of Octavian, ( Der Rosenkavalier )the Countess in Capriccio, Christine in Intermezzo, and Arabella, as well as Mozart’s Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, and Elvira (Don Giovanni), Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress, Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow, Lady Billows and Helena in Britten’s Albert Herring and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. At the Royal Opera House she has sung more performances of the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier than any other singer.
Her love of all things French has led to many recordings of French song and opera, perhaps most successfully Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène and La Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein. As well as her opera performances she has given recitals all over the world. In 2001 she was awarded the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honnneur. She was made a Dame in 1996 and she holds doctorates from many universities, including Oxford, London, Paris Sorbonne and Sussex.
Born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Felicity has lived in Sussex since 1980. After obtaining a degree in French and Latin at Royal Holloway College, she spent several years studying singing at the Royal Academy of Music before venturing into the wide world of opera and song. Music has taken her across the globe but she owes a great debt of gratitude to Glyndebourne Festival Opera, where she spent many happy years and where she first fell in love with the Sussex countryside. At Glyndebourne she discovered the operas of Richard Strauss, and sang the rôles of Octavian, ( Der Rosenkavalier )the Countess in Capriccio, Christine in Intermezzo, and Arabella, as well as Mozart’s Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, and Elvira (Don Giovanni), Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress, Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow, Lady Billows and Helena in Britten’s Albert Herring and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. At the Royal Opera House she has sung more performances of the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier than any other singer.
Her love of all things French has led to many recordings of French song and opera, perhaps most successfully Offenbach’s La Belle Hélène and La Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein. As well as her opera performances she has given recitals all over the world. In 2001 she was awarded the title of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honnneur. She was made a Dame in 1996 and she holds doctorates from many universities, including Oxford, London, Paris Sorbonne and Sussex.
Singers
Stephen Rooke – Tenor
Stephen Rooke was born in Newport, Gwent, and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music. Operatic roles include Pilade Ermione and Chapiltsky Pique Dame, Malcolm Macbeth for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Ferrando Cosi, Grimoaldo Rodelinda, Don Ottavio Don Giovanni, The Witch Hansel and Gretel for Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Jenik The Makropulos Case for Glyndebourne Festival Opera at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. St.Brioche The Merry Widow , First Armed Man Die Zauberflote for the Royal Opera, Forsyth and Captain Fonnegra in the world premiere of David Homes’ Friend of the People, Percy Shelley in the world premiere of Monster both for Scottish Opera, Count Elemer Arabella for Opera North, Tom Rakewell The Rakes Progress for English Touring Opera, Emilio Partenope with the Early Music Company at the Buxton and Convent Garden Festivals, Fenton Falstaff and Macduff Macbeth for The City of Birmingham Touring Opera, Musil Broken Strings and Pilgrim 3 Snatched by the Gods for the Almeida Festival and Scottish Opera and the role of Florestan Fidelio for Opera Theatre Company. Bajazet Tamerlano for Opera by Definition, Steva Jenufa , Moser Die Meistersinger von Nurnburg, Dancing Master Ariadne auf Naxos and Tichon Katya Kabanova for Welsh National Opera, Loge Das Rheingold Saffron Opera Group, Froh Das Rheingold, Melot Tristan und Isolde for Longborough Festival Opera and Moser Mastersingers of Nuremberg, Melot Tristan and Isolde for ENO.
Concert work includes Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Sir Neville Mariner in Oporto, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Mozart Requiem, Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius in St Asaph and Guildford Cathedrals and Vaughan Williams On Wenlock Edge with the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra.
Stephen Rooke was born in Newport, Gwent, and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music. Operatic roles include Pilade Ermione and Chapiltsky Pique Dame, Malcolm Macbeth for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Ferrando Cosi, Grimoaldo Rodelinda, Don Ottavio Don Giovanni, The Witch Hansel and Gretel for Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Jenik The Makropulos Case for Glyndebourne Festival Opera at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. St.Brioche The Merry Widow , First Armed Man Die Zauberflote for the Royal Opera, Forsyth and Captain Fonnegra in the world premiere of David Homes’ Friend of the People, Percy Shelley in the world premiere of Monster both for Scottish Opera, Count Elemer Arabella for Opera North, Tom Rakewell The Rakes Progress for English Touring Opera, Emilio Partenope with the Early Music Company at the Buxton and Convent Garden Festivals, Fenton Falstaff and Macduff Macbeth for The City of Birmingham Touring Opera, Musil Broken Strings and Pilgrim 3 Snatched by the Gods for the Almeida Festival and Scottish Opera and the role of Florestan Fidelio for Opera Theatre Company. Bajazet Tamerlano for Opera by Definition, Steva Jenufa , Moser Die Meistersinger von Nurnburg, Dancing Master Ariadne auf Naxos and Tichon Katya Kabanova for Welsh National Opera, Loge Das Rheingold Saffron Opera Group, Froh Das Rheingold, Melot Tristan und Isolde for Longborough Festival Opera and Moser Mastersingers of Nuremberg, Melot Tristan and Isolde for ENO.
Concert work includes Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Sir Neville Mariner in Oporto, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Mozart Requiem, Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius in St Asaph and Guildford Cathedrals and Vaughan Williams On Wenlock Edge with the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra.
Nara Clapperton - Soprano
Nara Clapperton is 19 and in her First Year at the University of Chichester studying Vocal Performance, specialising in Opera and Classical Singing. She has studied music her whole life, and trained with Jane Money for 5 years, and is currently training with Yvonne Patrick and John Evans. Nara sang with Triora Musica in Triora, Italy, playing Sirena and Prima Damigella in Caccini's 'La liberazione di Ruggiero' in 2016, and returned to Triora with the company this summer playing Cupid in 'La Dafne' by Gagliano. Nara has also taken part in the Brighton Early Music Festival, playing Cupid in Gaia in 2016 and has sung in many projects through the years in the Brighton Fringe Festival with the Brighton Festival Youth Choir, whom she sang with for 5 years. She is very excited to take part in as many opportunities as possible and see what her future holds.
Nara Clapperton is 19 and in her First Year at the University of Chichester studying Vocal Performance, specialising in Opera and Classical Singing. She has studied music her whole life, and trained with Jane Money for 5 years, and is currently training with Yvonne Patrick and John Evans. Nara sang with Triora Musica in Triora, Italy, playing Sirena and Prima Damigella in Caccini's 'La liberazione di Ruggiero' in 2016, and returned to Triora with the company this summer playing Cupid in 'La Dafne' by Gagliano. Nara has also taken part in the Brighton Early Music Festival, playing Cupid in Gaia in 2016 and has sung in many projects through the years in the Brighton Fringe Festival with the Brighton Festival Youth Choir, whom she sang with for 5 years. She is very excited to take part in as many opportunities as possible and see what her future holds.
James Corrigan - Bass
Following the completion of a Law Degree at the University of Aberdeen, James began his training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2011 and has recently completed his BMus under the tutelage of George Gordon.
Since graduating James has worked as a freelance singer involved in various projects that include: singing the role of The Husband in the UK premier of Philip Glass and Robert Moran’s The Juniper Tree, performing as part of Janice Kerbel’s 2015/2016 Turner Prize entry, Doug, and singing Papageno in a new Scots language translation of The Magic Flute.
James has just finished a season as part of Garsington Opera’s Alvarez Young Artist’s Programme, where he understudied the role of the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro and sang the role in an abridged Figaro for Garsington in both England and Corfu.
Following the completion of a Law Degree at the University of Aberdeen, James began his training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2011 and has recently completed his BMus under the tutelage of George Gordon.
Since graduating James has worked as a freelance singer involved in various projects that include: singing the role of The Husband in the UK premier of Philip Glass and Robert Moran’s The Juniper Tree, performing as part of Janice Kerbel’s 2015/2016 Turner Prize entry, Doug, and singing Papageno in a new Scots language translation of The Magic Flute.
James has just finished a season as part of Garsington Opera’s Alvarez Young Artist’s Programme, where he understudied the role of the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro and sang the role in an abridged Figaro for Garsington in both England and Corfu.
Paul Martyn-West - Tenor
Paul Martyn-West studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and at the Royal Academy of Music, London. After gaining an Entrance Foundation Scholarship to the R.A.M., he went on to win a number of prestigious prizes including the Major van Someren-Godfrey Prize for English Song, the Elena Gerhardt Lieder Prize, the Grisi Mario Prize and Robert Alva Memorial Prize. Concurrently, he was awarded an L.R.A.M. and a Certificate of Advanced Studies. In 1992, Paul gained a Masters Degree (with Distinction) in Music Performance at City University, London ( his main thesis being “The Musico-Literary Development of E.J. Moeran’s Published Solo Songs and his second thesis describing “The Significance of the Falsetto Function in Voice Production”). He was awarded the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers Prize for Musical Excellence and later went on to study with the distinguished singing teacher and pedagogue, Cornelius Reid, in New York, London and Frankfurt.
Paul regularly sings as a recitalist in programmes of English Song and Lieder, throughout Britain. He has sung for the English Poetry and Song Society and has judged new competition songs. He has also performed for the Ivor Gurney Society, the Peter Warlock Society and, more recently, the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society and has been the dedicatory of a number of works by Andrew Campling, Margaret Wegener and Geoffrey Stern. ( In 2005, Paul recorded a CD of music by Stern, Warlock and Moeran on the Divine Art label). Paul’s oratorio repertoire includes the tenor parts in Haydn’s “Creation”, “ The Seasons” and various Masses; Handel’s “Messiah”; Bach’s “St John” and “St Matthew” Passions, “Magnificat” and “Christmas Oratorio”; Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” and “Hymn of Praise”; Mozart’s “Requiem”; Bruckner’s “Te Deum”; Janaceks’s “Otcenas”; Orff’s “Carmina Burana” (Tenor and Baritone parts), and Britten’s “St Nicholas”.
A number of Paul’s compositions have been performed by the London Dockland Singers, Thames Chamber Choir, City Chamber Choir and The City of Ely Military Band. He has also contributed an article to the “Church Music Quarterly” and a chapter to Cornelius Reid’s 90th birthday book, “The Modern Singing Master” ( 2002). Paul has also conducted major choral works at day-workshops for various choral societies. A member of the Association of Teachers of Singing, Paul runs an extensive private teaching practice in London.
Paul Martyn-West studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and at the Royal Academy of Music, London. After gaining an Entrance Foundation Scholarship to the R.A.M., he went on to win a number of prestigious prizes including the Major van Someren-Godfrey Prize for English Song, the Elena Gerhardt Lieder Prize, the Grisi Mario Prize and Robert Alva Memorial Prize. Concurrently, he was awarded an L.R.A.M. and a Certificate of Advanced Studies. In 1992, Paul gained a Masters Degree (with Distinction) in Music Performance at City University, London ( his main thesis being “The Musico-Literary Development of E.J. Moeran’s Published Solo Songs and his second thesis describing “The Significance of the Falsetto Function in Voice Production”). He was awarded the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers Prize for Musical Excellence and later went on to study with the distinguished singing teacher and pedagogue, Cornelius Reid, in New York, London and Frankfurt.
Paul regularly sings as a recitalist in programmes of English Song and Lieder, throughout Britain. He has sung for the English Poetry and Song Society and has judged new competition songs. He has also performed for the Ivor Gurney Society, the Peter Warlock Society and, more recently, the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society and has been the dedicatory of a number of works by Andrew Campling, Margaret Wegener and Geoffrey Stern. ( In 2005, Paul recorded a CD of music by Stern, Warlock and Moeran on the Divine Art label). Paul’s oratorio repertoire includes the tenor parts in Haydn’s “Creation”, “ The Seasons” and various Masses; Handel’s “Messiah”; Bach’s “St John” and “St Matthew” Passions, “Magnificat” and “Christmas Oratorio”; Mendelssohn’s “Elijah” and “Hymn of Praise”; Mozart’s “Requiem”; Bruckner’s “Te Deum”; Janaceks’s “Otcenas”; Orff’s “Carmina Burana” (Tenor and Baritone parts), and Britten’s “St Nicholas”.
A number of Paul’s compositions have been performed by the London Dockland Singers, Thames Chamber Choir, City Chamber Choir and The City of Ely Military Band. He has also contributed an article to the “Church Music Quarterly” and a chapter to Cornelius Reid’s 90th birthday book, “The Modern Singing Master” ( 2002). Paul has also conducted major choral works at day-workshops for various choral societies. A member of the Association of Teachers of Singing, Paul runs an extensive private teaching practice in London.
Players
Neil McLaren - Baroque Flute
Highly regarded for his performances on instruments from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century, Neil McLaren’s breadth of experience and stylistic versatility mark him among the best of today’s impressive array of flautists.
Neil is a valued long-standing member of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, and has played with the English Baroque Soloists, The English Concert and the Academy of Ancient Music. With all of these renowned ensembles he has toured extensively, and records with the major record labels. His solo recording of rare baroque flute concertos with the Cambridge Baroque Camerata attracted significant critical acclaim and is broadcast frequently around the world.
Also an accomplished performer on the modern flute, Neil’s British première of Halil for flute and orchestra by Leonard Bernstein was recorded live by the BBC at the Barbican Centre. He has given numerous concerts at London’s prestigious Purcell Room and Wigmore Hall, including, in 2007, a recital of 20th Century Dutch and English works which featured the British première of Serene for flute and soundtracks by Ton Bruynèl and the world première of David Osbon’s The Creatures of Freitman.
Neil works with many of the major opera companies, orchestras and chamber ensembles in the UK, with conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Roger Norrington, Vladimir Jurowski, Sir Mark Elder , Semyon Bychkov, and the late Sir Charles Mackerras and Gustav Leonhardt.
Highly regarded for his performances on instruments from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century, Neil McLaren’s breadth of experience and stylistic versatility mark him among the best of today’s impressive array of flautists.
Neil is a valued long-standing member of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, and has played with the English Baroque Soloists, The English Concert and the Academy of Ancient Music. With all of these renowned ensembles he has toured extensively, and records with the major record labels. His solo recording of rare baroque flute concertos with the Cambridge Baroque Camerata attracted significant critical acclaim and is broadcast frequently around the world.
Also an accomplished performer on the modern flute, Neil’s British première of Halil for flute and orchestra by Leonard Bernstein was recorded live by the BBC at the Barbican Centre. He has given numerous concerts at London’s prestigious Purcell Room and Wigmore Hall, including, in 2007, a recital of 20th Century Dutch and English works which featured the British première of Serene for flute and soundtracks by Ton Bruynèl and the world première of David Osbon’s The Creatures of Freitman.
Neil works with many of the major opera companies, orchestras and chamber ensembles in the UK, with conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Roger Norrington, Vladimir Jurowski, Sir Mark Elder , Semyon Bychkov, and the late Sir Charles Mackerras and Gustav Leonhardt.
Iain Gibbs - Violin
Iain Gibbs began playing the violin at the age of six and went on to study with Erik Houston at the Royal College of Music, Junior Department from 2001 – 2009. He studied with John Crawford at Trinity Laban Conservatoire before completing the Masters Course at the Royal College of Music, studying with Detlef Hahn.
In August 2016 Iain became a member of the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera. He regularly works with the John Wilson Orchestra and has also worked with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Royal Northern Sinfonia and BBC Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded for Seth McFarlane and performed with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett at the Royal Albert Hall as part of a gala evening in support of WellChild.
Iain plays a 1928 William Hill violin, generously lent to him. Forthcoming performances include Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Portobello Orchestra and Havering Concert Orchestra.
Iain Gibbs began playing the violin at the age of six and went on to study with Erik Houston at the Royal College of Music, Junior Department from 2001 – 2009. He studied with John Crawford at Trinity Laban Conservatoire before completing the Masters Course at the Royal College of Music, studying with Detlef Hahn.
In August 2016 Iain became a member of the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera. He regularly works with the John Wilson Orchestra and has also worked with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Royal Northern Sinfonia and BBC Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded for Seth McFarlane and performed with Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett at the Royal Albert Hall as part of a gala evening in support of WellChild.
Iain plays a 1928 William Hill violin, generously lent to him. Forthcoming performances include Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Portobello Orchestra and Havering Concert Orchestra.
Toby Hawks - Co-artistic Director and Violin
Toby Hawks has been playing the violin since he was 7, and the viola since just a little bit later. After a thorough grounding in his teens with the Bromley Youth Music Trust, he went on to Cambridge University – ostensibly to study Modern and Medieval Languages, but really to play the violin and viola as much as possible! He has been a freelance performer and teacher ever since: in Gloucestershire, London and now Sussex. Before moving to Sussex, he spent a year in Finland, immersing himself in her culture and, specifically, folk music. This is an abiding interest, as is playing the Baroque violin.
Toby Hawks has been playing the violin since he was 7, and the viola since just a little bit later. After a thorough grounding in his teens with the Bromley Youth Music Trust, he went on to Cambridge University – ostensibly to study Modern and Medieval Languages, but really to play the violin and viola as much as possible! He has been a freelance performer and teacher ever since: in Gloucestershire, London and now Sussex. Before moving to Sussex, he spent a year in Finland, immersing himself in her culture and, specifically, folk music. This is an abiding interest, as is playing the Baroque violin.
Anna Growns - Viola
Anna completed her undergraduate degree at the Royal College of Music in London, studying with Jonathan Barritt and Simon Rowland-Jones. Whilst at the RCM Anna was selected for the English National Opera Evolve Scheme, which gives students the opportunity to play alongside the orchestra of English National Opera. In 2016 she was a member of Southbank Sinfonia, where an exciting programme of events included performances around the UK, Italy and Paris and collaboration with musicians from the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Anna is now continuing her studies with Matthew Jones at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Anna completed her undergraduate degree at the Royal College of Music in London, studying with Jonathan Barritt and Simon Rowland-Jones. Whilst at the RCM Anna was selected for the English National Opera Evolve Scheme, which gives students the opportunity to play alongside the orchestra of English National Opera. In 2016 she was a member of Southbank Sinfonia, where an exciting programme of events included performances around the UK, Italy and Paris and collaboration with musicians from the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Anna is now continuing her studies with Matthew Jones at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Antero Manocchi - Cello
Antero was born in 1978 in Bern, Switzerland, and began to play the cello at the age of nine. He graduated from the Hochschule der Künste Bern in 2001 where he studied with Peter Hörr and gained a Postgraduate Diploma with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in 2003 where he studied with Mats Lidstrom. He was a prizewinner at the Kiefer Hablitzel-Stiftung competition in 2004. In the same year he was a member of Southbank Sinfonia with whom he performed the Elgar Cello Concerto at St John's Smith Square. He now enjoys a freelance career.
Antero was born in 1978 in Bern, Switzerland, and began to play the cello at the age of nine. He graduated from the Hochschule der Künste Bern in 2001 where he studied with Peter Hörr and gained a Postgraduate Diploma with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in 2003 where he studied with Mats Lidstrom. He was a prizewinner at the Kiefer Hablitzel-Stiftung competition in 2004. In the same year he was a member of Southbank Sinfonia with whom he performed the Elgar Cello Concerto at St John's Smith Square. He now enjoys a freelance career.