Biographies
Elisabeth Goell
Elisabeth was born to Dutch-German parents in Heidenheim in Germany. Her early years were spent learning the recorder, piano, flute and singing in her Prize-winning local choir, however, her formal musical education took place in Ireland. Majoring in piano and organ, Elisabeth repeatedly won the O’Burne cup for piano. She studied flute and recorder as second instruments.
It was only when Elisabeth won the First prize and Lieder-bursary at the Lieder Competition, Dublin that her true vocal potential was discovered and furthered by Paul Farrington and Emma Kirkby, London. Since then she has been in great demand as a soloist with chamber ensembles and choirs, at Festivals throughout Ireland and as a recitalist throughout the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. She has performed in the Master Series Concerts in Heidenheim and Dinkelsbuehl, Germany, in Cork, Rep. of Ireland and at the National Concert Hall, Dublin and the Jaqueline du Pré Concert Hall, UK
She founded the Piano-trio with Voice "Terra Omnis"
She is a valued contributor to the Music Network Ireland and has received a grant from the Arts Council Northern Ireland to record all 29 songs of Clara Schumann, using the composer’s own piano
Her recordings to date are “Out of the Mist of Time”, featuring music of unduly neglected women composers and
with Salto International “Christmas-Women tell their story”.
Lauretta
Bloomer
Lauretta Bloomer was born in Oxford and studied piano at the Royal College of Music in London and chamber music at the Hochschule für Darstellende Kunst in Vienna.
As soloist and chamber musician she has won major national and international prizes and awards. Lauretta was pianist in residence at the University of Fine Arts in Banff, Canada and took part in the first festival of contemporary music in Siguenza, Spain.
Lauretta has worked extensively throughout Europe and America and in her capacity as a chamber musician and accompanist in locations such as the Purcell room in London and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In addition to her work with the Netherlands Opera Studio, Lauretta performs regularly with the Gelders Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras and is a member of several chamber music ensembles with whom she tours regularly.
She collaborates since several years as a Lieder Accompanist to Elisabeth Goell;
Rebekah
Durston
graduated from the University of York in 1998 with a BA (hons) degree in music, and then spent a postgraduate year studying violin at the Royal College of Music in London. She was awarded a scholarship with the Leverhulme Trust and graduated with distinction (PGdipRCM).
From 1999 to 2002, Rebekah worked with nearly every period instrument orchestra in London and toured extensively in Britain and Europe.
She has made many recordings with groups such as the King's Consort, the Gabrielli Consort and Players and the London Handel Orchestra, and has appeared on national and international television with these orchestras.
Rebekah has especially enjoyed many chamber music concerts with the Georgian Concert and the King's Consort at venues such as the Wigmore Hall in London, and the Royal Festival Hall. Many of these concerts were recorded live for BBC Radio 3.
The musician moved to Northern Ireland in 2001. She now has two young children and is juggling her busy home life with playing and teaching the violin.
Apart from teaching privately and in schools all over Northern Ireland, Rebekah works part-time for the Belfast School of Music and has, for the past two years, conducted the Junior String Ensemble, which annually plays in a special concert at the Ulster hall.
She has performed more recently with the New Irish Orchestra and with the singer/songwriter Kristin Lennox, in concerts given at the Waterfront Hall and the Elmwood Hall, Belfast.
Judith Sheridan
G.Mus.RNCM,MPhil,Dip Opera/Dip Lied HfMDK(Hamburg)
P O Box 49811 London NW5 4WZ
Tel: 0207 428 9160
Mob: 07771 570314
Email: cantalirica@breathemail.net
After studying voice at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, England and research at Lancaster University, Judith studied opera and lieder at the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst, Hamburg. Following ten years appearing as an opera and concert soloist Judith returned to England, where she divides her time between performing, conducting and voice teaching, at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, Queens University, Belfast, and London. She studies with Paul Farrington and coaches regularly with Emma Kirkby and Anthony Rooney.
As a recitalist, Judith has a special interest in the rarely performed music by recently discovered composers banned under the Nazi regime, and is half of the Voice and Lute Duo, “Bess’s Buskers”.
Judith is an experienced Estill practitioner, is the founder and co-ordinator of the Bristol group, Voice Craft (EVTS) South West, is Vice-President of Tosini: Teachers of Singing in Northern Ireland, and Artistic Advisor and Co-ordinator of the Oxford Lieder Festival
Rónán Murray
Rónán Murray was born in Dublin in 1977. His
early musical training was with his father, Ciarán. Subsequent organ studies
with Peter Sweeney in the Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama were
complemented by masterclasses from such leading organists as James David
Christie and Ben van Oosten. He is active as a freelance organist, pianist and
composer. With a repertoire covering everything from traditional music and jazz
piano, to classical organ music and improvisation, Rónán also writes and
performs his own songs. He has made numerous radio and television broadcasts and
is much in demand both as a solo artist and collaborator, including accompanying
his sister, soprano Niamh Murray. Recent appearances include the first Cork
International Pipe Organ Festival in 2005 and a performance at the organ of St.
Sulpice church, Paris.
Rónán has
featured as musical director for many productions, especially variety concerts
in venues throughout Ireland. He was a finalist in the Unisong International
Song Competition 2004. He co-wrote and performed (with mezzo-soprano Maria de
Moel) the musical theatre piece 'Violating Messages: The Songs of Kurt Weill'
during the 2005 Dublin Fringe Festival. His debut album of songs, Reasons and
Seasons was released in 2006.
In August 2006 Rónán performed a recital at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, home
to one of the greatest pipe organs in the world. April 2007 saw Rónán perform in
Lodz Cathedral, Poland. November 2007 sees Rónán make his debut in Vienna,
accompanying Classicus Youth Chamber Choir under their director Máire Ledwith
Butler. For more information please visit
www.ronanmurraymusic.co
Jutta Reick
Born in Stuttgart,
Germany, she received piano lesson from the age of six. Eighteen years old, she
began with organ studies.
She majored from the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik, Esslingen with the B Diploma.
Since then she has been working as organist and cantor in various church communities.
Her love for the organ and the human voice have led her to participate in various courses and seminaries :
Conducting childrens choirs ( KMD Schweizer, KMD Münden, Evelin Bracks-Fröschle )
Choral courses 1,2,3 ( Prof. Dr Stefan Klöckner )
Seminary for the singing of Psalms ( Prof. Dr. Christa Reich )
Russian Choir music (Elena Svetozarova, St Petersburg )
Historical ways to play the organ ( Prof. Jon Laukvik )
Being groovy on the organ ( KMD Matthias Nagel )
Jutta works in a diverse range of organ and church music, teaching both organ and piano
And she is also joint author to a “Handcraft Book” ( Frankfurt, a.Main, 1992 )
Craig Combs
Craig comes from
Bristol, the heart of the Appalachian Mountains in Tennesse, USA.
He studied piano at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music, where he concluded his studies with the highest marks. He continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music and was awarded his Doctorate in 1988.
Not only gave he many concert recitals and worked as a teacher, but he filled also many organisational posts in the music world. He premiered and facilitated many modern compositions, amongst them two Operas by Michael Kosch.
He aspires to have as broad a repertoire as possible.
Presently he resides in London, where he now concentrates on chambermusic.
Philip Whitaker
my Sound Engineer
35 years with BBC as both Senior Studio Manager and Radio Producer, with:
“Listen to the Band” “Night Ride” “John Dunn Show” “Travelling Folk” BBC Radio Big Band Scottish Radio Orchestra BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and with artists ranging from Sir Adrian Boult to Shirley Bassey……
Now with Mobile Recordings Services recording many artists and Events as:
Wei-Ling Chen; Tal Weissman; Mark Swartzentruber The Oxford Lieder Festival 2002-5; UCLOpera 2003/5; New Orleans Jazz Band London 2003; Folk sessions; The London Scottish Pipe Band, Horn duo in Krakow, Poland
AND OF COURSE ELISABETH GOELL!!
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