Magnificat

Stephen Davies Conductor

Stephen Davies, a former chorister of St Paul’s Cathedral, London, and Music Scholar of Queen’s College, Oxford, was awarded a scholarship by the Austrian Institute to study with the great organist and composer Anton Heiller at the Academy of Music in Vienna. He has since been active both in the field of music education – particularly at St Olave’s School, Orpington, where he was Director of Music for seventeen years – and as an organ recitalist. In this capacity he has given concerts in major venues throughout Europe, in New York and in New Zealand. In 2017 he gave concerts in Estonia, Germany, and Norway, and last year he performed in King’s College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He founded the Sine Nomine Singers in 1994 and conducted this chamber choir for almost 20 years, giving concerts in local venues as well as in Estonia, France and Germany. He was Director of Music here at St George’s from 2002 to 2016.

From the programme of 15 October 2022.

Rachel Burgess Alto

David Coronel Tenor

Jonny Davies Soloist

After being Queen’s Chorister and then Head Chorister at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, Jonny Davies won a music scholarship to Trinity School, Croydon. During his teenage years he studied violin with John Francis, piano with Nigel Clayton at Croydon Schools Piano Centre and organ with Simon Williams. He also acted as assistant organist at St Mary’s Church, Addington. He then went to Brasenose College, Oxford where he received an Organ Exhibition, and sang with Schola Cantorum and the Oxford Chamber Choir. Since leaving Oxford, Jonny has sung as a lay clerk in Guildford Cathedral, with the Holst Singers conducted by Stephen Layton, and with professional church choirs all over London. He was Director of Music at St Olave’s Church, Hart Street and St Katharine Cree in the City of London, from 2007 until 2015.

From the programme of 4 February 2023.

Ruth Holton Soprano

Ruth Holton studied at Clare College, Cambridge, where she was a choral exhibitioner. She has many recordings to her name including a project to record all of Bach’s sacred cantatas with the Holland Boys Choir. Her discography includes Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Carissimi’s Jephtha, Handels’ Messiah and Haydn’s Nelson Mass. Ruth has had a long association with the choir of St Thomas’ Leipzig, Bach’s own church, and she returns in 2007 to sing his St John Passion. The clarity of Ruth’s voice makes her a popular choice for contemporary music. Projects have included programmes of new works and many first performances both in Britain and on the continent.

Graham Neal Soloist

Born in 1980, Graham Neal was educated at St. Olave’s School, Orpington. He studied music at the University of Surrey where he was awarded the Robert Naylor prize for the most meritorious degree recital. Graham went on to study on the Knack opera course at the English National Opera. Most recently he studied as a postgraduate with John Wakefield and Mary Hill at Trinity College of Music, achieving a distinction in his final recital. Solo concert engagements this season include Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Ode for S t Cecilia’s Day, Haydn’s Creation and Paukenmesse, and Dave Brubeck’s Gates of Justice. Graham is adept at choral singing, appearing frequently with the choirs of Westminster Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Cappella Nova.

Bob Pruden Bass

Harriet Webb Mezzo-soprano

Harriet Webb read music at Manchester University where she studied violin with Ronald Birks of the Lindsay Quartet and singing with Diane Matthews at the Royal Northern College of Music. She currently studies with Sarah Dunstan. She has sung and made numerous recordings with several of the top London chamber choirs and groups such as the BBC Singers, Polyphony and the King’s Consort and her own five voice group, Amici. Solo work has included performances of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, St John Passion, Christmas Oratorio, and Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Israel in Egypt, and Dixit Dominus and Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody. Harriet has also participated in a masterclass on English song with Ian Partridge. Harriet is Director of Music at Newstead Wood School for Girls.

Julius Bannister Viola

Pam Hinton Piano