Our Concert - on SATURDAY December 7th -  was a rousing performance of  Handel's great oratorio "Messiah".

We were delighted to have been supported by these amazing soloists:

 

Amelia Monaghan - Soprano

Former Sherborne school and Trinity College Cambridge Choral Scholar, Amelia is fast becoming known for her solo performances, with London Mozart players and at the Sherborne Abbey Festival Chorus, among many others.​

Charlotte Collier - Alto

Charlotte has been able to work regularly with a number of small independent Opera companies and Choral societies; many of whom ask her to return regularly each year.  Charlotte’s route into professional singing has not been conventional, her study has been mainly private and she continues to work closely with her teacher Neil Baker, she has regular language and drama coaching.

Jonathan Cooke - Tenor

Jonathan is a versatile tenor, equally comfortable on the operatic stage, concert platform, and choral circuit. Notable recent roles include Don Jose Carmen (Baseless Fabric Theatre), Hoffmann The Tales of Hoffmann (Kentish Opera), Pinkerton Madame Butterfly (Opera Up Close), and Cavaradossi Tosca (Bridgetower Ensemble).​​

Philip Smith - Bass

​Philip Smith studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Northern College of Music, graduating with distinction in 2008. He is a former Britten Pears Young Artist, a Samling Artist and Crear Scholar. His professional career has embraced a wide repertoire of operatic and concert roles. 

 

 

and instrumentalists:

 

Caroline Buxton - Cello

​Caroline enjoys playing  her 'cello with the Dorset County orchestra and Chamber orchestra, as well as the Dorset Bach Cantata club. A keen chamber music player often joining friends to play a wide repertoire of quartets, quintets and even octets.

Winston Leese - Trumpet

​Playing brass since the age of 6, Winston has made a full career in teaching and professionally with the D'Oyly Carte Opera orchestra. He has been based in Dorset since 1985 and works with many choral societies across the South-West.

Chris Mahon - Organ

An organist for over 60 years, Chris is well known locally after a career including Clayesmore School and St James' church, Shaftesbury.

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​Special thanks must go to Caroline D'Cruz who stepped in to conduct us, at short notice, after our tireless music director Annemarie Lees suffered a fall (although she was able to swell the ranks of our sopranos!)

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