Unity in Division

Jonny Davies Conductor

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.

Natalie Robinson Alto

Natalie Robinson was educated at Bury Grammar School (Girls) and then went to study Music at Durham University where she specialised in singing, becoming a choral scholar with the chapel choirs of St Cuthbert’s Society, St Mary’s College, and University College. In her final year, Natalie performed in Hansel and Gretel with the Durham Opera Ensemble and was lucky enough to record a CD with University College Chapel choir alongside preparing for her final recital. In 2016, she went on to complete her PGCE in secondary music at the UCL Institute of Education and currently works at Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School. She also jointly runs BYMT North-West where she rehearses and conducts the choirs and teaches the flute. Natalie has previously been a soloist for Bromley Œcumenical Singers in Mozart’s Requiem, Karl Jenkins’s The Armed Man, and Rossini’s Stabat Mater, and has thoroughly enjoyed rehearsing and performing Ständchen for this concert.

Kathryn Bartlett Piano

Kathryn Bartlett began her musical training as a Junior Exhibitioner at Trinity College of Music, and then went on to study at Kingsway Princeton College on the Young Musicians course, incorporating ‘A’ levels and playing the flute with the London Schools Symphony Orchestra. She took her degree at Colchester Institute specialising in performance, and then returned to Trinity College of Music as a post- graduate on the accompanists’ course, studying with Christine Croshaw. She has appeared in masterclass with Roger Vignoles and Geoffrey Pratley, and accompanied a recital with Willard White. She now combines piano teaching both in schools and privately with freelance accompanying, and is the regular accompanist for the Orpington Chorale and Bromley Œcumenical Singers.

Stephen Davies Organ

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.

Beth Fitzpatrick Piano

Beth Fitzpatrick has been an enthusiastic musician for many years. In Year 10, she achieved Grade 8 distinctions in singing, violin and piano and earlier this year she was awarded a distinction in the ARSM Performance Diploma in piano. She is currently a Music Scholar in Year 13 at Trinity School Croydon where she plays a key role in music ensembles including the school orchestra, chamber groups and school choir. Last year Beth was awarded the Penrose Shield singing prize at Trinity and sang the role of Dido in the school’s production of Dido and Æneas. Beth is leader of Bromley Youth Symphony Orchestra and Co-Leader of Bromley Youth Chamber Orchestra. She loves performing with other musicians and has made many friends through her participation in music. She is delighted to have been asked to perform in tonight’s Sine Nomine Singers concert.

Dominique Wells Piano

Jennifer Wells Violin

Since receiving a mark of 148 in grade 1 violin at the age of 5 and acquiring 144 marks in grade 8 violin at the age of 9 and the same mark in grade 8 viola at 10, Jennifer Wells went on to gain a distinction in the ARSM diploma for a recital programme on both instruments. She is a keen participant in orchestras and chamber groups at Bromley Youth Music Trust, currently playing in Bromley Youth Chamber Orchestra, and regularly performs as a soloist at local music festivals where she has enjoyed considerable success. In 2017 she was awarded first prize in Talents for Europe, an international competition held in Slovakia. She has performed as a concerto soloist in the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, and has performed in the presence of the local mayor. She is also a keen pianist, achieving a distinction in her Grade 8, and enjoys singing as a member of the choir at St Mark’s Church, Bromley.