Recipients
2011
Helena Harrison - Musical Theatre
Rhoslyn Lawton - Viola
Richard Jones - Jazz Violin
Specializing in Jazz and Improvisation, Richard is a creative violinist who is passionate about exploiting and demonstrating the huge versatility of the violin across a broad musical spectrum.
Having recently graduated from his music degree program with First Class Honors in 2011, Richard has gained not only a strong academic qualification, but a wealth of experience within the music industry. He has already performed Nationwide throughout the UK as well as within Europe, playing with nationally acclaimed band ‘Kill It Kid’ who are signed to One Little Indian Records. Recording a successful album and singles with the band, Richard toured extensively and made numerous live radio appearances including Radio 2 and Radio 1 as well as featuring within magazines and literature such as NME and Burberry. After experiencing the life of a professional musician, Richard is now focussing on developing his skills and creativity as a jazz musician, undertaking a Masters Course at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Rebecca Haw - Ballet
Steffan Morris - Cello
Born in Neath, Steffan began playing the cello at the age of eight and was a pupil at Ysgol Gymraeg Castell-Nedd and Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera before gaining a place at the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey.
Since September 2010, Steffan has been studying in Vienna with Professor Heinrich Schiff at the University for Music and the Performing Arts and was one of only two cellists to have been selected to study with Professor Schiff that year.
Steffan’s concert and recital engagements have enabled him to travel extensively in Wales, England, Scotland, Holland, Germany, Austria and Italy and he has performed at distinguished venues including The Menuhin Hall, Bradford Cathedral, Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, St. David’s Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, the Brangwyn Hall and the Musikverein in Vienna.
In March 2009, Steffan won the title of Texaco Young Musician of Wales. Later that year, he won the Gregynog Young Musician of Great Britain and the Jellinek Award. In November 2009 Steffan performed at the Wales Millennium Centre in a special televised concert marking three special occasions: Karl Jenkins’s 65th birthday, the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre and the 10th anniversary of the devolution of Wales. Steffan’s performance impressed conductor Karl Jenkins who later commented:
Steffan Morris is an outstanding young cellist. The last time we met, he played, so beautifully, the cello solo from the Benedictus from my The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace which I was conducting at the Wales Millennium Centre. Steffan has a rare talent and will, I have no doubt, go, as they say, all the way.
2011 highlights include performing in front of HRH The Queen and other members of the Royal family at the Wales Millennium Centre, the opening concert of the 2011 Urdd National Eisteddfod, a recital at the Gower Festival and a tour of Corfu with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. Later this year, Steffan will perform at the Swansea Festival, Cardiff Music Festival and a concert at the new Dora Stoutzker Hall at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Charity work is one of Steffan’s priorities; his musical performances have helped to raise thousands of pounds for charities such as The Prince’s Trust, Malcolm Sergeant Cancer Fund, Tŷ Hafan and many more.
In February 2010, with two days notice, Steffan was invited to take part in a gala concert at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff to raise money for victims of the Haiti disaster where he performed alongside Dennis O’Neill, Wynne Evans, David Soar, Michael Pollock and numerous musicians. The concert was broadcast on S4C.
BBC Wales produced a documentary on Steffan Morris which was shown on S4C in May 2010. The programme traced Steffan’s life at home and at the Yehudi Menuhin School, and followed his preparations for conducting various concerts with the Neath Sinfonietta, which Steffan himself now manages. His conducting debut attracted a great response from the audience and his next concerts are eagerly awaited. BBC Radio Cymru also produced a programme on Steffan going to Vienna to study.
Steffan is an avid chamber and orchestral musician. He continues to lead the cello section of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, is a member of the Neath Chamber Orchestra, the West Glamorgan Youth Orchestra and Sinfonia Cymru as well as various smaller chamber groups.
Steffan plays a cello made for him in 2006 by his grandfather, Clive Morris.
Thomas Young – Musical Theatre
Rhiannon Llewellyn – Voice
Rhiannon recently received her BMus under the tutelage of Janet Price at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she was the recipient of the Gemma Sharp Memorial Prize. During her time at RWCMD she was also selected to represent the college at a reception held by HRH The Queen at Buckingham Palace in recognition of The Achievements of Young People in the Performing Arts. Throughout her studies, Rhiannon has been fortunate to participate in masterclasses with artists such as Dame Josephine Barstow, Patricia MacMahon, Rebecca Evans, Della Jones and Adrian Thompson.
As an oratorio and concert soloist, Rhiannon has performed in venues such as Cadogan Hall, The Purcell Room, Colston Hall, St. David’s Hall and numerous British Cathedrals. Concert work includes Orff’s Carmina Burana (National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain), Vivaldi’s Nulla in Mundo Pax (Welsh Sinfonia), Brahms Ein Deutches Requiem (Reading Festival Chorus), Mozart’s Exsulate Jubilate (Somerset County Orchestra), Haydn The Creation (Salford Choral Society), Bach Mass in B Minor (Llandaff Cathedral) and Bach Magnificat (Reading Bach Choir).
Rhiannon has given solo recitals in Switzerland, France, USA and Italy and at British festivals such as the Shrewsbury Chamber Music Festival and the Two Moors Festival and will make her Royal Albert Hall debut in 2012 at the Thousand Male Voice Choirs Festival.
Recently performed operatic rôles include Countess Almaviva The Marriage of Figaro (Dragon Opera’r Ddraig), Polly Peachum Beggar’s Opera (Longborough Festival Opera), First Lady The Magic Flute (Opera’r Ddraig) and The Nightingale The Nightingale and the Rose (Premiere – Tom Floyd). Rhiannon will sing Yara in the world premiere of Mario Ferraro’sThe Moonflower at the 2011 Tête à Tête Festival.
From September 2011, Rhiannon will study for her master’s at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Lillian Watson with support from the Elizabeth Evans Trust.
For more up-to-date information: www.rhiannonllewellyn.weebly.com
Benjamin Tarlton - Cello
In January 2008, 2009 and 2010 he achieved 4 gold medals each year, as first prizes in the Swansea Festival for Young Musicians. Three of these classes had upper age limits of 18 and of 20. In April 2009 and 2010 he was awarded the trophy for the “most outstanding string player” in the festival.
In 2009 he also won the Final of the Rotary International Competition for Young Musicians from schools in South, mid and West Wales.
He was the winner of the Intermediate section of the “Music in the Vale” competition held in 2010 and in June he was awarded second prize in the Abingdon Concerto competition. This resulted in him playing the Dvorak Concerto in an open rehearsal in March this year.
In the National Eisteddfod in August 2010, he won the Blue Riband for under 16 string players. The large bursary award went towards some of his music courses and he performed on television and radio.
He regularly attends music courses including “Pro Corda” for young chamber music players from all over the country during which he gave the first performance in Aldeburgh church of an early cello sonata movement by Benjamin Britten. He has also attended courses for ‘cellists where he has received coaching from many top players including Natalie Klein, Colin Carr, Guy Johnston and Alexander Baillie who has been an important influence on his playing. His main teacher for several years was Sharon McKinley, a highly respected performer as well as an excellent teacher.
In December 2009 he gave two performances of the Elgar ‘Cello Concerto with his father, Antony Tarlton conducting the Cerddorfa Dinas Powys Orchestra. In March this year took part in the first performance of a piece by Alexander Baillie for 17 cellos and voice at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.
Ben was awarded a place at the Yehudi Menuhin School for young string players and pianists from all over the world. He took up his place in January 2011 and is studying the ‘cello with Thomas Carroll. He is looking forward to his future studies at the School as it will help him to realise his goal of becoming a soloist.
Ben has been awarded a bursary by Beecher Acoustics of Oxford towards his fine Italian ‘cello and has recently received an award from the Elizabeth Evans Trust.
Kathryn McAdam - Mezzo
Kathryn McAdam, mezzo-soprano, graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 1st class honours degree in music in 2006. She joined the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2008 to commence her Masters in vocal studies, and is now going into her final year of the prestigious Opera Course under the tuition of Janice Chapman.
Kathryn sung the role of Olga Eugene Onegin Tchaikovsky at the 2010 Endellion Festival along side Mark Padmore, Roderick Williams, Susan Bickley, and Katherine Broderick. Just prior to this, she understudied the role of Suzuki Madama Butterfly Puccini for Grange Park Opera. During the summer of 2009, she sang as chorus in the 75th Glyndebourne Festival, and in 2007 as chorus for the 60th Aldeburgh Festival and the Bregenzer Festspiel, Austria.
Other operatic roles include Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro Mozart, Laura Jolanta Tchaikovsky, Public Opinion Orpheus in the Underworld, Sorceress Dido & Aeneas, Anne of Cleves Dearly Beheaded by Jamie Brown, and Mrs Anna and Lady Thiang The King & I at Buxton Opera House. She has performed excerpts as Carmen Carmen, Ramiro La Finta Giardiniera, Octavian Der Rosenkavalier, Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia, Meg Falstaff, Charlotte Werther, Beppe L’amico Fritz, Tamerlano Tamerlano, Nancy Martha, and Dorabella Cosi fan tutte,
Kathryn gives regular performances throughout the country having sung in venues such as: St John’s Smith Square, LSO St.Luke’s, Freemasons’ Hall, the Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and the Barbican. In May 2010 she was a finalist in the AESS Patricia Routledge competition, and reached the semi-finals of the Royal Overseas League Competition in February. Kathryn was also a finalist in the Guildhall Aria Competition, November 2009. Future performances include the roles of Frau Reich Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor Nikolai, and Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Britten.
Kathryn was the holder of the 2010/11 Gwen Catley Scholarship and is now the recipient of the 2011/12 GSMD Silk Street Award. She is also very generously supported by the Elizabeth Evans Trust, and Serena Fenwick.
William Turrell - Musical Theatre
Sam Fox - Stage Management
Sam is originally from Swansea, South Wales and is currently studying at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts where he will graduate from in 2012 with a BA (Hons) Degree in Stage Management and Technical Theatre. Whilst at Mountview, Sam has studied a variety of areas in theatre including Lighting and Sound Design, Lighting and Sound operation, Construction, Design, Automation, Stagecraft and eventually specializing in Stage and Production Management. Other industry relevant qualifications include Health and Safety In The Workplace, Emergency First Aid, Pyrotechnics and Special Effects, Hi-Fly training, Working at Height, Auto CAD and Vector Works introductory course, as well as many others. Sam has had a keen interest in Theatre from a very early age and has been working in the industry as a professional for over 3 years on some of the UK’s well-known shows.
Sam would like to thank his family and friends for their continual support throughout the years. He would also like to thank the Elizabeth Evans Trust for their financial backing and support over the forthcoming year.
Gwenllian Llyr – Harp
At only 22 Welsh harpist Gwenllian Llyr is quickly gaining international recognition for her energetic and charismatic performances. A recent graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, she has won numerous awards including First Prize at the UK Camac Harp Competition in 2010, Co-winner of the RWCMD Concerto Trials 2010 and 7th Prize at the prestigious USA International Harp Competition in 2010. Gwenllian has performed in venues across Europe, Asia and North America, and recently performed the Ginastera Harp Concerto in both St. David’s Hall Cardiff and at the RWCMD Royal Gala in Buckingham Palace. Currently a student of Caryl Thomas and Isabelle Perrin, Gwenllian is pursuing an active performing career with numerous solo, chamber and orchestral engagements. This autumn she will begin a Masters degree at the Juilliard School in New York with the world-renowned harpist Nancy Allen.
Huw Morgan - Trumpet
Since becoming Brass Winner of the BBC Young Musician 2006, Huw Morgan has appeared in concert and recital throughout Europe, Asia and North America. Born in South Wales in 1987 and educated at Chetham’s School of Music, he graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with first-class honours, studying under Professor James Watson, Mark David and Robert Farley.
Hailed by The Times as an artist of ‘high intelligence and immaculate professionalism,’ Huw is the youngest ever winner of both the International Trumpet Guild Solo and Orchestral competitions, and in 2010 scooped both the Wind Section Award and Philip Jones Memorial Prize at the Royal Overseas League Annual Music Competition. Last year he also became the first ever trumpeter to be selected for the Making Music/Philip & Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists, and was awarded 2nd prize in both the Jeju International Trumpet Competition (Korea) and International Trumpet Competition “Città di Porcia” (Italy). Most recently he won 1st prize in the 2011 Only Brass International Trumpet Competition (Belgium).
As a soloist, Huw has performed with the Northern Sinfonia, Hamburg Camerata, Banff Festival Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru and Irish Chamber Orchestra under conductors including Yan Pascal Tortelier and Thomas Zehetmair. He has appeared at festivals in Cheltenham, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Tokyo, in recital at the Wigmore Hall, Kings Place and Bridgewater Hall, and was the featured trumpeter on the soundtrack to the hit movie Me and Orson Welles. A keen exponent of contemporary music, Huw has premièred works by Eric Ewazen, Leif Segerstam and Karl Jenkins.
In addition to his solo career, Huw pursues his interest in chamber music as a founder member of brass ensemble QuintEssence. Throughout 2009 Huw served as Acting Associate Principal in the Helsinki Philharmonic, and has appeared as guest principal with the BBC Symphony, Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Philharmonia, Hallé, Bournemouth Symphony and Aurora orchestras.
Highlights of the 2010/11 season include concerto performances with the Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Swan, Lichfield Sinfonia, Hertfordshire Philharmonia and National Youth Wind Ensemble, premières of works by Paul Max Edlin and Olga Neuwirth, as well as recitals at St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James’s Piccadilly and the Purcell Room (under the auspices of the Park Lane Group). www.huwmorgan.net
Adam Gilbert - Baritone
2010
Luke Russell – Flute
Luke Russell was born in Bath and began playing the flute aged 8. He graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in July 2010 with a 1st Class BMus(Hons) degree, having been awarded a Major Scholarship to study there in 2006. During his time at the college, Luke won the Solo Woodwind Prize and places on the Welsh National Opera Placement scheme (2008-2010) and BBC National Orchestra of Wales Side-By-Side scheme (2009).
Luke recently auditioned for Postgraduate study and was offered scholarships to three major London conservatoires. He begins at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on the internationally renowned Orchestral Training Course in September 2010. His studies in London are generously supported by a Musician’s Benevolent Fund Postgraduate Performance Award and the Elizabeth Evans Trust.
Luke is an Extra Player for Welsh National Opera and has performed with the orchestra at St David’s Hall, Wales Millennium Centre and Birmingham Hippodrome. In 2010 he performed around Wales as a member of Sinfonia Cymru, culminating in a performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at St David’s Hall. Luke is also an Extra Player for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Other prizes and awards include the Wolfson Foundation Award, June Emerson Launchpad Award, RWCMD Chamber Prize and a bursary to attend the Oxford Flute Summer School 2008, awarded by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
Jocelyn Freeman – Accompanist
London-based pianist Jocelyn Freeman is rapidly emerging as one of Wales’ foremost young instrumentalists. As a soloist she has performed Mozart’s Concerto No. 20 with Cardiff Sinfonietta, and given recitals in St Martin-in-the-Fields, the Wales Millennium Centre and broadcast live on BBC television. Competition successes have included Gold at the Marlow International Concerto Competition, and the Blue Rhiband at Wales’ National Eisteddfod. She is increasingly in demand as an accompanist and duo partner, having performed at the Wigmore Hall, Bristol’s Colston Hall, and in Denmark, and recently winning the Joan Chissell/Rex Stephens Duo Prize for Schumann Lieder, the Ludmilla Andrews Russian Song Accompanist Prize, and the Blodwen Cosslett Leyshon Prize.
Since 2004 Jocelyn has studied at the Royal Academy of Music and still holds the Marylebone Association Scholarship. She is mentored by Pascal Nemirovski and Michael Dussek, and has also worked closely with Christopher Elton, Martin Roscoe and Hilary Coates. Future plans include performances around Britain, as both soloist and chamber musician, including St John’s Smith Square in November, Wigmore Hall in January, and recording her solo debut CD with Kissan Records.
Jocelyn is very grateful for the support of the Richard Carne Trust, the EMI Sound Foundation, the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund, the Seary Charitable Trust, the Ryan Davies Memorial Fund, the Arts Council of Wales and the Elizabeth Evans Trust
Jamie Lawrence – Musical Theatre
Jamie is about to enter is second year at Mountview Academy of theatre arts studying Technical theatre. Before moving to London to start his studies Jamie worked In the Wales Millennium Centre as part of their technical staff. He had the opportunity to work on some fantastic touring productions such as Mary Poppins, Sound of Music and the 25th anniversary production of Les Miserables. The Wales Millennium Centre gave Jamie so many new transferable skills he can now use in the industry. As well as working in the WMC Jamie had the chance to work with the Welsh playwright Frank Vickery on many of his welsh tours as his Stage Manger. His experiences before entering Mountview have consolidated his passion for theatre and his love for technical theatre.
Rhian Lois – Soprano
Welsh soprano Rhian Lois – Winner of the prestigious ‘Lies Askonas’ competition at the Royal College of Music, London, graduated from the RWCMD in 2009 with a First Class Honours Degree. Rhian has won numerous prizes and awards including the coveted Bryn Terfel Scholarship, the prestigious Osborne Roberts Blue Riband , the Roland Jones prize (2008/09), Llais Llwyfan Llambed Scholarship 2009 and she was also a finalist in the Stuart Burrows International Voice Award 2009. She is a Boise Scholar and has also been awarded the HRH the Prince of Wales Advanced Study Award from the Arts Council of Wales. Rhian is taught by Janis Kelly.
Her concert highlights include Mozart’s Requiem with the CBSO at Birmingham Symphony Hall conducted by Simon Halsey and subsequently soloist in CBSO’s Stravinsky retrospective”Igor Fest”. She appeared in concert with Bryn Terfel at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, and also sang in an Operatic Gala to launch the new opera company ‘Opra Cymru’. Rhian regularly appears in concerts all over the UK and as a guest artist with many of Wales’ most renowned Male Voice Choirs. She has also been fortunate to sing to HRH Prince Charles at his home in Mid Wales.
A past member of the Welsh National Youth Opera where Rhian appeared in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress and Bernstein’s Candide. Rhian has also sung the Role of the nursing sister in Puccini’s Suor Angelica. She has performed in master classes for James Gilchrist, Ingrid Surgenor, Beatrice Unsworth, Janet Price, Barbara Bonney, Robert Tear, and most recently, John Fisher.
Television engagements include numerous appearances on S4C and The Wales Show for ITV.
Her first CD was released in 2009 under the label ‘Kissan’ featuring the renowned harpist Catrin Finch.
Recent engagements include Maximinian and Shepherdess in Purcell’s Dioclesian for the Royal College of Music in London, and Suzanna in ‘Le Nozze Di Figaro’ (Scenes RCM). Other engagements this season include Musetta, La Boheme for ‘Opera up Close’ at the Cock Tavern Theatre and Soho Theatre at the West End, Despina, Cosi Fan Tutte for Opera Project, and Zerlina (cover), and Don Giovanni for ENO. Rhian will appear in a concert with BBC ‘Last choir standing’, and Classical Brits winners ‘Only Men Aloud’.
Rhian continues her studies at the RCM as a scholar, supported by the Audrey Sacher award and the Josephine Baker trust. Rhian will be generously sponsored for the 2010/11 academic year by the Musicians Benevolent fund, The Arts Council of Wales, The Elizabeth Evans Trust and the Countess of Munster where she will also be on their recital scheme.
Rupert Whitehead – Trombone
Rupert Whitehead started playing the Trombone aged 12 and quickly progressed through the numerous youth music ensembles of the Carmarthenshire Music Service, west Wales. He was a member of various national ensembles in Wales, including the National Youth Orchestra of Wales (2005-6).
Rupert studied at Royal College of Music, from 2006-10, graduating with a First. He studied with Byron Fulcher, Lindsay Shilling, Graham Lee, Richard Edwards and Roger Harvey. While at the RCM he played principal Trombone in the Symphony and Sinfonietta orchestras, playing under renowned conductors such as Esa- Pekka Salonen and Vladimir Jorowski. In 2009 Rupert was awarded a place on a scheme in collaboration English National Opera, sitting in on rehearsals for the double bill of Duke Bluebeard’s castle and the Rite of Spring in October, and then Tosca in May 2010. Rupert recently made his professional debut with the Philharmonia orchestra.Rupert is also kept busy as a chamber musician. He is a founder member of an RCM based brass quintet called Triumph Brass with whom he has played at various venues in London and has toured Trinidad and Tobago. He is also part of an emerging trombone quartet, Bonafide, who are currently performing around the capital. As a soloist Rupert has twice performed recitals at the Llandeilo festival in west Wales. He has been featured as a soloist in various RCM concerts with performances of Enrique Crespo’s Improvisation Nr. 1 and Hindemith’s Sonata for Trombone and Piano. In January 2010, Rupert also played the solo Trombone part in Berlioz’s Grande Symphonie funebre et triomphale with the RCM Wind Orchestra.
Adam Smith – Musical Theatre
Born and raised in Ebbw Vale, South Wales. Adam‘s passion for theatre started from a young age. He trained with Blaenau Gwent Young Stars and took leading roles in many of their shows including their award winning production of Les Miserable in which he played the malicious inn-keeper Thenardier. He continued working with the company until he moved to London to begin his studies. He has appeared in the critically acclaimed “Turkish Delight the Opera” which had a successful run over the summer of ’08 at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, London. He is about to enter into his second year of training in professional musical theatre at Arts Educational Schools, London. During his first year he has had the greatest pleasure of working under the guidance of many of the West End ‘s Leading Directors and Musical Directors and has even made his Professional West End Debut in “Christmas in New York” alongside Oliver Thompsett, Julie Atherton, Rachael Wooding, Hannah Waddingam, Leanne Jones and many many more. He wants to thank the Elizabeth Evans Trust for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to continue with his studies at this fantastic establishment. “This trust has helped no end, I cannot thank the trustees enough.”
Natalya Romaniw – Soprano
Welsh soprano Natalya Romaniw studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the guidance of John Llewelyn Evans, where she is in her final year of the opera course. Natalya’s grandfather, originally from the Ukraine, settled in Wales during the Second World War.Operatic engagements have included La Rondine with British Youth Opera, the cover of First Nymph in Rusalka at the Glyndebourne Festival and Anne Truelove The Rake’s Progress at the Millennium Centre, Cardiff for WNYO. More recently she appeared as Giulia in La scala di seta for BYO and covered the role of Anne Truelove for the Glyndebourne Festival.
Already in demand as a soloist on the concert platform appearances include Messiah in Fishguard, a recital of Rachmaninov Songs at St Luke’s at the Barbican, recitals at the Swansea Festival, Ammanford Arts, in Guernsey and at St David’s Hall Cardiff and in 2009 as soloist with the Manchester Camerata for their popular New Year’s concerts. She also appears regularly as soloist with the Welsh Male Voice Choirs including the Dunvant, the Morriston Orpheus, Port Talbot and Pontarddulais. For BBC Four Natalya co-presented and appeared as the soprano in the documentary Chopin and the Singer.Natalya was awarded first prize at the London Welsh ‘young singer of the year’ and more recently, first prize in the 2008 Welsh Singers Competition. In 2009 she reached the final of the song prize in the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. Natalya is also the winner of this year’s Clonter Opera Prize.At the Guildhall she has appeared as Arminda La Finta Giardiniera , Tatyana Eugene Onegin, Antonia Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Ellen Orford Peter Grimes, and the title roles of Anna Bolena and Arabella (Opera Scenes) and in the title role of Spinalba. Future roles include Blanche Les Dialogues des Carmelites and the title role in Iolanta.Natalya is the recipient of an MBF award and a Susan Chilcott scholarship and is kindly supported this year by Independent Opera, Serena Fenwick, the Elizabeth Evans Trust, The Countess of Munster Trust, the Ryan Davies memorial fund, and the Kathleen Trust. Her scholarship for the 2010/11 academic year is supported by the Worshipful Companies of Plumbers and Saddlers and the Atlantic Foundation. Natalya was also the winner of the Guildhall Gold Medal in 2011.Future engagements include the First Nymph in Rusalka with Glyndebourne on Tour and a return to the Manchester Camerata as soloist in their New Year’s concerts 2010
Steffan Lloyd Evans – Musical Theatre
Steffan is currently studying on the Acting for Musical Theatre Course at Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He has performed in The Magic Flute, Tosca’, and ‘The Barber of Seville’ with Welsh National Opera and created the role of Mordred in ‘Gwyneth and the Green Knight’ for Music Theatre Wales. He also sang the role of Sion in Benjamin Britten’s ‘The Little Sweep’ for S4C.
Steffan was a member of the National Youth Choir of Wales and Welsh National Youth Opera where he played the role of the Grand Inquisitor in the acclaimed production of ‘Candide’. His roles include Demetrius in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, Vershinin in Chekhov’s ‘Three Sisters’, Sidney and Taylor in Arthur Miller’s ‘The American Clock’, The Earl of Richmond in Shakespeare’s ‘Richard III’ and the title role in the Welsh musical ‘Jiwdas’ at The National Eisteddfod. Steffan recently played the lead role of Frank Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ directed by Maria Friedman. Thanks to the support of the Elizabeth Evans Trust, Steffan can now complete his third year without as much concern about financial issues.
Alison Dodd – Saxophone
Alison recently completed her undergraduate degree at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she studied the classical saxophone with Lara James, Gerard McChrystal and Sarah Markham. During this time, she took 4 months away from Cardiff to study at the Athens Conservatory under Theodore Kerkezos where she gave many recitals, both as a soloist, in a quartet, and as part of the Piraeus Saxophone Ensemble. She has benefitted from master classes with many great musicians, including Dr. Paul Cohen, Fred Hemke, Lynn Klock, and Joe Murphy.
Chamber music is one of Alison’s many passions. She is a founding member of Fantasie saxophone quartet. Highlights for this ensemble include winning the RWCMD Woodwind Chamber Music Prize 2008 & 2010, performing as soloists alongside the RWCMD Wind Orchestra, and premiering a work for choir and saxophone quartet at the Sage, Gateshead by composer Andy Jackson. Alison also plays in Duality, a saxophone and percussion duo, and has been principal saxophone for the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales 2007-09.
She was rewarded a Denne Gilkes Award this year, allowing her to attend and participate at Canford Summer School of Music. In March 2010 she was honoured to be given an opportunity to perform Ingolf Dahl’s “Concerto for Alto Saxophone” after a successful performance in the RWCMD Concerto Trials. In 2007 she became a recipient of the Sir John Barbirolli Memorial Foundation Grant, enabling her to purchase her P. Mauriat soprano saxophone, and was also named a Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist.
She is embarking on a Masters of Music course at the Royal College of Music in September 2010 with a Prince of Wales Advanced Study in Music Award, and an award from the Elizabeth Evans Trust.
Jennie Joy Porton – Clarinet/Sax
Jennie gained a place at the Royal College of Music London a year early (aged 17) and by the end of her first year of study there, was awarded ‘Joint Principal Study’ status on clarinet and saxophone.Jennie is due to graduate from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with an MMus in 2011; currently at the end of her first year of study there, she has been awarded a high distinction for both academic and performing modules.Once again, this is a Joint Principal Study course (a very rare opportunity to major in two instruments at Postgraduate level), and has bees generously supported by the prestigious Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Arts Council of Wales and HRH Prince of Wales Advanced Music Award.Having studied with Janet Hilton, Martin Robertson and Kyle Horch in London, Jennie is currently receiving tuition from Leslie Craven and Lara James and receives flute lessons from Jonathon Burgess.
For a three month period in 2007, Jennie undertook a semester of study at the Universitat Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, where she received tuition from Prof. Alois Brandhofer (Clarinet).
To date, performance highlights include a solo saxophone recital at The Sage, Gateshead; performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto at Cardiff’s Llandaff Cathedral; several solo soprano saxophone performances at the New York Summer Festival; being awarded 2nd place in the Jane Melber RCM saxophone prize; performance of Walton’s Façade to Lady Walton at her home on the island of Ischia, Italy, under the baton of Owain Arwel Hughes OBE; performance of clarinet and piano arrangements of Walton’s Façade in the first memorial concert on Lady Walton’s Italian estate since her death in Spring 2010; She was also chosen by the Royal College of Music to play tenor saxophone in Prokofiev’s Romeo and Julie, performing in a side-by-side project with the London Symphony Orchestra, and played first clarinet and solo soprano saxophone in a side-by-side performance with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.In addition, Jennie was invited to perform soprano saxophone with saxophonist Lara James at her album launch concert, in a trio with herself and pianist Jeremy Young, in April 2009.
Jennie is on the Welsh National Opera Extras list on both clarinet and saxophone, having being invited to do so aged 21.
As well as solo and orchestral experience, she also has extensive show performances behind her, playing all instruments of the clarinet and saxophone families in productions ranging from Hello Again! to the Welsh National Youth Opera Production of Sweeney Todd (Jennie was an original member of the orchestra).
Jennie has been fortunate to perform in a solo capacity in various masterclasses, which to date include those given by Phillipe Cuper, Nicholas Carpenter, Victoria Soames-Samek, Andrew Roberts, Frederick Hemke, Jean-Yves Formeau and Simon Haram, as well as receiving continual guidance from saxophone professor Dr. Paul Cohen in Manhattan, with whom she studied in New York and continues to visit, with an open invitation to study when time and schedules permit.
From July 2009, Jennie is the official saxophone teaching deputy for Lara James at the prestigious Junior Department of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.Summer 2010 has been spent working as Clarinet and Saxophone Teaching Assistant at the New York Summer Music Festival, working with saxophone professor Dr. Paul Cohen and clarinet professors Joshua Kovac and Pascal Archer, as well as performing in numerous capacities throughout the duration of the Festival.
Sam Furness – Tenor
Sam began singing as a chorister at Llandaff Cathedral where he was Dean’s scholar. He then attended Charterhouse school as a music scholar, during which time he became a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and its chamber choir, Laudibus. In 2004 Sam won a choral scholarship to sing in the choir of St John’s College Cambridge, where, having graduated last year with a BA in theology, he then spent a year as a Lay Clerk, studying singing with David Lowe.
Sam has enjoyed a large amount of solo work with regular oratorio appearances including Mozart ‘Requiem’, Bach ‘St Matthew Passion’ and ‘St John Passion’, Mendelssohn ‘Elijah’, Handel ‘Messiah’, Britten ‘St Nicholas’, Dyson ‘Canterbury Pilgrims’, Haydn ‘Nelson mass’ and Beethoven ‘Mass in C’ amongst others. Sam’s operatic roles to date include Abinidab in Samuel Hogarth’s new opera ‘David and Goliath’, Rinnucio (‘Gianni Schicchi’), Don Ottavio (‘Don Giovanni’), Lensky (‘Eugene Onegin’), Orfeo (‘Orfeo’), Lysander (‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’) and Tamino (‘Magic Flute’). He is currently studying post-graduate vocal studies at the Royal Academy of Music, supported by the South Square Trust Fund scholarship, with a view to a career in opera. He currently studies singing with his countryman, Ryland Davies and Ian Partridge and is a recipient of a Prince of Wales award from the arts council of Wales.
Joshua Mills – Tenor
From Neath in South Wales, Joshua is now recognised as one of Wales’s most promising young tenors.
He is twenty one years of age, and has been awarded the JMAS prize for voice and the 2007 prize for voice by the South Wales Evening Post. Most recently, he was presented with the Roger Chillcott Music in the Community Award and selected as SELCSA prize winner for 2010.
Joshua was taught for a year by the Head of Vocal Studies at the Royal Academy of Music, before taking up a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He is now in his third year of a four-year degree course as a classical tenor, under the vocal tuition of Adrian Thompson and the Director of the National Opera Studio, Kathryn Harries.
Joshua has been selected on three separate occasions to perform with the Welsh National Youth Opera at the Wales Millennium Centre, including in their latest production of Sweeney Todd. He has also sung at prestigious venues in Prague, Paris, Barcelona and Tuscany, where he toured with the Ariosa Singers. As a guest soloist, he has performed with the Dunvant Male Choir, Newport Philharmonic Choir, Cardiff Male Choir and Pontarddulais Male Choir.
Joshua was invited by the BBC to participate in a four part television series about Welsh tenors, and his television debut was broadcast in March this year. He is now experiencing an increasingly busy concert schedule and performing at concerts nationwide.
Joshua aspires to progress through his degree course and further his singing studies through postgraduate study with one of the leading music conservatoires. His ultimate ambition is to become a leading operatic tenor.
In his spare time, Joshua enjoys cooking, attending chapel and spending time with friends and family.
Joshua offers many thanks to the Elizabeth Evans Trust for their kind and generous support.
Samantha Price – Mezzo Soprano
Sam is 24 years old and is due to begin her formal musical training at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in September 2010, as part of the new MA Opera Performance course. She initially trained as a Speech and Language Therapist at Reading University, where she graduated with First Class Honours and was a recipient of the Tavistock Student Award in 2009. Whilst at University Sam successfully auditioned for a music tuition bursary, and in her final year was one of the first winners of the Reading University Concerto Competition, performing Elgar’s Sea Pictures with the University Symphony Orchestra.
Sam hails from Bridgend in South Wales where she has appeared as a soloist for a variety of groups including Cor Dewi Sant, Con Voce, John S Davies Singers and the SCO Orchestra, based in Swansea. She has also given a solo recital as part of the South Newington Summer Festival in 2010. Sam is a past-member of the National Youth Choir of Wales, under the direction of David Rowland, Islwyn Evans and Ralph Allwood. She is also a member of the Welsh National Youth Opera and has been involved in productions of ‘The Calling of Maisy Day’, a chorus opera commissioned specifically for WNYO, and Sondheim’s ‘Sweeney Todd’.
Sam currently sings with the John S Davies Singers and the BBC National Chorus of Wales, for whom she recently took part in a step out solo for the City of London festival at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Sam is very grateful that her studies will be supported by The Elizabeth Evans Trust and The Dame Shirley Bassey Scholarship.
Johnathan Mann – Conductor
Jonathan Mann is founder and Artistic Director of the Cardiff Sinfonietta. Formed in 2004 the orchestra is now recognised for its exciting performances of the standard repertoire, attracting the best young musicians from the major UK conservatoires. The orchestra performs an annual series of concerts in Cardiff and is presently performing a cycle of Beethoven‘s Symphonies.
In March 2009, Jonathan made a highly successful debut with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales at BBC Hoddinott Hall in a concert promoting ‘Composers of Wales’. Since then he has conducted the orchestra at the BBC Proms 2009 and performances with the orchestra in November 2009 and January 2010. Recently he has been re-invited to conduct the orchestra in 2011 for BBC Radio 3’s Discovering Music programme.
Jonathan Mann studied the piano, violin and clarinet and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in July, 2008. He is presently studying at the Royal Academy of Music on the prestigious conducting course with Colin Metters and George Hurst.
Since commencing his studies in London, Jonathan has conducted the Royal Academy of Music Symphony and Concert Orchestras, Guildhall New Music Ensemble and guest conducted the Kensington Chamber Orchestra and Symphonica Tywi.
A diverse list of recent engagements in 2010 has included conducting the London Lawyer’s Symphony Orchestra in classic Russian repertoire, working with an orchestra of young American musicians in Frankfurt and conducting the world premiere of Vespers by Diana Burrell.
For more information, please visit www.jonathanmann.org
2009
Jennie Quirk – Stage Manager
Jennie Quirk, a former pupil of Olchfa Comprehensive School, went on to do a BTEC National Certificate in Production Arts at Gorseinon College. Jennie is currently going in to her final year at the Guildford School of Acting, studying Professional Production Skills. Jennie was also a member of West Glamorgan Youth Theatre Company since the age of 13, which sparked her initial passion for stage management.
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Rebecca Haw – Ballet Dancer
Rebecca won a scholarship to Elmhurst School for Dance in September 2007. In April 2008 she danced for Prince Charles at the re-opening of Birmingham Town Hall, a great privilege. Rebecca went on to win the junior section of the solo competition at Elmhurst in November 2008, dancing the Bluebird Variation from The Sleeping Beauty. She enters the sixth form at Elmhurst in September 2009 to commence the three year programme of ‘Classical Ballet and Related Dance Styles’. Rebecca enjoys swimming, surfing and music. She is most grateful to The Elizabeth Evans Trust for their kind support. For more information on Elmhurst please click here
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Craig Barlow – Musical Theatre
Craig Barlow was selected among thousands of auditionees to take a lead role in the ITV Wales series Jacob’s Ladder in 2003. Over the following years Craig’s ambitions intensified as he took lead roles in productions of Tommy and Les Miserables with the Neath Amateur Operatic Society and Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Miserables with Aberdare Drama Academy. He was also a member of the National Youth Theatre of Wales in 2005 and 2007, under the guidance of Greg Cullen, completing productions of Botticelli’s Bonfire and Café Cariad. Subsequently, Craig studied for a year at Gorseinon College, playing Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet and Curly in Oklahoma, while he auditioned at top-flight drama schools. After receiving multiple offers, Craig is now being put through his paces at Guildford School of Acting. Eager to grasp every opportunity, he secured a place in the GSA Singers and Dancers companies, with whom he will be performing publicly in the following year. Thanks to the Elizabeth Evans trust, Craig can concentrate on his studies, with the financial pressure of his proposed career being alleviated.
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Mary Elliott – Cellist
Mary Elliott has performed as a soloist throughout the United Kingdom and Europe in venues including the Purcell Room, Mercers Hall, Brangwyn Hall and has given concerts in America, Africa and Asia. She has also performed concerti with orchestras including the Jupiter Orchestra and the Guildford Symphony Orchestra. She is the recipient of the Una Clarke, Elizabeth Evans and Ryan Davies awards, as well as the Amy Lindley Prize for Cellists. Mary is a passionate chamber musician and has performed in the Spittalfields, Wyastone, Gower, Lake District Summer Music and Pennine Spring Music Festivals as well as in St John Smith Square, St Martin in the Fields, Mansion House and Tchaikovsky Hall, Moscow. For chamber music, she has been awarded first prize in the Royal Northern College of Music Terence Weil, Leonard Hirsch and Granada competitions and her piano trio were prize-winners at the Anglo-Czechoslovak competition in London. She was recently invited to perform in several concerts in Denmark as part of the Thy Chamber Music Festival. In 2009 her masters project “Forbidden but not Forgotten: Music Suppressed by the Third Reich” was selected to be performed live on Radio Suisse Romande. As an orchestral musician, she has appeared at the Royal Albert Hall under the baton of Mstislav Rostropovich, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Buckingham Palace with the Philharmonia Orchestra and in tours to the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, Switzerland. In 2008, she was invited by Pierre Amoyal to become a member of the Lausanne Camerata with whom she regularly performs in Switzerland and France as well as in tours of Russia and Singapore. Mary studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School with Louise Hopkins and at the Royal Northern College of Music with Hannah Roberts where she graduated with first class honours in 2008. She is currently persuing a master’s degree at the Conservatoire de Lausanne in Switzerland where she studies with Patrick Demenga. She has participated in masterclasses with Msistslav Rostropovich, Bernard Greenhouse, Gary Hoffman, Colin Carr, Ralph Kirshbaum, Liwei Qin and Timothy Eddy. Mary frequently gives concerts in aid of various charities including Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, Save the Children and Thare Machi Initiative. She has lead workshops and concerts for hospices and care homes such as Great Ormond Street Hospital and Helen House, Oxford. Mary was born in South Wales in 1985 and plays on a French cello made in 1847 by Joseph Charotte.
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Hannah Morgan – Clarinet
Welsh clarinettist Hannah Morgan began the clarinet at the age of 9. At the age of 12 she began her studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with Leslie Craven until she gained a place at the Royal College of Music in 2004. There Hannah received lessons from Janet Hilton and Tim Lines while having master classes from clarinettists such as Andrew Marriner, Pascal Maragues and Mark Van de Viel. In her third year she was accepted on the ERASMUS exchange course to study in the Vienna Hochschüle fur Dastellende Künst with Ernst Ottnesammer. Now Hannah is studying for her MMus on a Leverhulme scholarship at the RCM with Richard Hosford and Bob Hill. As a soloist, Hannah has been awarded the Elizabeth Evans Trust Award, the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Award, the Ian Fleming Charitable Trust Award and the Countess of Munster Prize; she also won the Selmer Clarinet Prize in memory of Frederick Thurston. With her ensemble, the Glendower Duo, Hannah will be performing at the Purcell Room in January as part of the prestigious Park Lane Group series. As an ensemble player, Hannah has played in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Concertgebouw with orchestras including the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, National Chamber Orchestra of Wales and the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands. This year she has been given a trial with the WNO, appointed principal clarinet in the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra and has also been selected for the RCM Orchestral Pathway, giving her the opportunity to play with the BBC Symphony orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra.
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Natalya Romaniw – Soprano
Natalya Romaniw is 21 years old and studies at The Guildhall school of Music and Drama under the guidance of John Llewelyn Evans. Natalya hails from Swansea in South Wales where she regularly appears as a guest soloist for Male voice choirs including the Morriston Orpheus, Pontarddulais and the Dunvant male voice. Her work in Wales includes regular performances in the Brangwyn Hall, the Millennium centre and the Millennium stadium as the anthem singer for Wales. In London Natalya has performed Rachmaninoff songs at LSO St. Lukes church as a pre-LSO concert and will be performing songs of Vaughan Williams at the GSMD as part of a concert organised by Graham Johnson. Natalya took her first role with WNYO in the summer of 2007 as ‘Ann Truelove’ from The Rakes Progress and will be performing the role of ‘Musetta’ in Puccini’s La Boheme for WNO 2009. This year she performed the role of ‘Georgette’ and cover ‘Yvette’ in La Rondine for BYO. Natalya is the winner of the London Welsh competition 2007 and more recently, the Welsh singers competition, making her the Welsh entrant for BBC Cardiff Singer of the world 2009. For more information please click here
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Leanne Cody – Piano
Born in Barry in 1989, Leanne was educated at Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School before achieving a scholarship to Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, where she achieved 3 ‘A’s at A level. Prior to this Leanne attended the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Junior Department where she studied piano with Penny Davies and violin with Kathryn Hardman. Over the years Leanne has won numerous competitions and music festivals throughout the country. In 2008, after auditioning at all the major conservatoires Leanne accepted a place on the prestigious joint course of the RNCM and Manchester University, studying an academic music degree alongside a performance degree, one of only five students studying on the course. By choosing to stay in Manchester Leanne was able to continue studying with Peter Lawson, he teacher from Chetham’s. Peter’s expertise in contempory music has led Leanne to enjoy performing this genre of music. Leanne has just completed her first year of studies and has won an award for the highest performance mark in her year at the university. Her love of chamber music has seen her lead several ensembles and she has been in demand as a confident accompanist for the university. Leanne would like to thanks the Elizabeth Evans Trust for their financial support
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Christina Modestou – Musical Theatre
Christina grew up in Port Talbot, South Wales where she began performing from a young age. As a young performer she filmed various adverts and also performed in theatres such as Her Majesy’s Theatre, London and Cardiff Millenium Centre to name few. She has had the priveledge of performing in front of the Prince of Wales in Cardiff and has also had the experience of singing with Martine McCutcheon on BBC Children In Need. At 18 she completed a Performing Arts BTEC at Gorseinon College where she gained a triple Distinction. Before moving to London to start her training at Arts Educational School Christina starred in the BBC Wales series, “Belonging”. She recently had the pleasure to work with Maria Freidman and sing on her new album. Christina is about to begin her third year at Arts Ed and cannot wait to do her shows. She has just auditioned and fortunately got leading roles in both productions of Jerry Springer (the Opera) and Cats. Christina would like to say a huge Thank You to everyone at The Elizabeth Evans Trust as they have made it possible for her to complete her training.
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Gary Griffiths – Baritone
Gary Griffiths was born in Carmarthen. He is currently studying on the opera course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He initially trained as an actor at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and then went on to study singing at the Guildhall from where he completed a BMus with First Class Honours. He studies with Susan McCulloch.
Gary has recently won the Gold Medal at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition and the Lampeter Eisteddfod Blue Ribbon Competition. His studies are supported by The Elizabeth Evans Trust, MBF and The Countess of Munster Trust.
Operatic roles include Belcore L’elisir d’amore for British Youth Opera in Tuscany, Ford Falstaff at the Royal Albert Hall (excerpts), The Dog and The Innkeeper The Cunning Little Vixen for Grange Park Opera, Count Almaviva Le Nozze di Figaro, Eugene Onegin Eugene Onegin, Papageno Die Zauberflöte, Dr Malatesta Don Pasquale, Zurga Les pêcheurs de perles and Guglielmo Cosi fan tutte for GSMD opera scenes. Gary has performed in recital at many of the UK’s major concert halls including the Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Barbican Hall, Kings Place, Birmingham Symphony Hall and The Sage, Gateshead.
In 2007 he attended the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, USA and made his BBC Radio 3 debut, performing on In Tune with Iain Burnside. Future plans include Germano La Scala di Seta for British Youth Opera, recitals at The Crush Room – Royal Opera House and at the Wigmore Hall with Sir Thomas Allen and Malcolm Martineau for the Samling Foundation and a recital with Iain Burnside in Woodbridge, Suffolk. to visit Gary’s website please click here
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Benn Williams – Musical Theatre
Biog to Follow
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Adam Quill,Tom Goodridge,Daniel Williams,Gwyn Stacey,Sian Stacey,Neil Almond & Patrick Morrison
The Trust also sponsored 7 young memebers of the Carmarthenshire based Company ‘Just Good Friends’ who are planning a trip to perform ‘By Jeeves’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for more information click here
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2008
Mary Elliot – Cello
Born in Cardiff, Mary Elliott has performed as a soloist throughout the United Kingdom in venues such as the Purcell Room, Mercers Hall, Brangwyn Hall and has given concerts in France, Switzerland, Tunisia, the United States and Thailand, for the Thai royal family. She has also performed concerti with orchestras including the Jupiter Orchestra and the Guildford Symphony Orchestra. She is the recipient of the Una Clarke, Elizabeth Evans Trust and Ryan Davies awards, as well as the Amy Lindley Prize for Cellists.
For chamber music, she has been awarded first prize in the Royal Northern College of Music Terence Weil, Leonard Hirsch and Granada competitions and her piano trio were prize-winners at the Anglo-Czechoslovak competition in London. Mary is a passionate chamber musician and has performed in festivals including the Spitalfields, Wyastone, Gower, Lake District Summer Music and Pennine Spring Music Festivals as well as in St John Smith Square, St Martin in the Fields, Mansion House and Tchaikovsky Hall, Moscow.
As an orchestral musician, she has appeared at the Royal Albert Hall under the baton of Mstislav Rostropovich, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Buckingham Palace with the Philharmonia Orchestra and in tours to the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, Switzerland. In 2008, she was invited by Pierre Amoyal to become a member of the Lausanne Camerata with whom she has performed regularly in Switzerland and toured Russia.
Mary studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School with Louise Hopkins and at the Royal Northern College of Music with Hannah Roberts where she graduated with first class honours in 2008. She is currently persuing a master’s degree at the Conservatoire de Lausanne in Switzerland where she studies with Patrick Demenga. She has participated in masterclasses with Mstislav Rostropovich, Bernard Greenhouse, Gary Hoffman, Colin Carr, Ralph Kirshbaum, Liwei Qin and Timothy Eddy.
Mary frequently gives concerts in aid of various charities including Doctors without Borders, the Red Cross and Thare Machi Initiative. She has lead workshops and concerts for hospices and care homes such as Great Ormond Street Hospital and Helen House, Oxford.
Mary was born in South Wales in 1985 and plays on a French cello made in 1847 by Joseph Charotte
Daisy Evans – Opera Singer
Born in Cardiff in 1989, Daisy and her family moved to the Vale of Glamorgan in 1994. She was educated at Ysgol Iolo Morganwg in Cowbridge and Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg in Barry, South Wales. In 1998 she sang in the Children’s Pageant at the Bridgend National Eisteddfod, and she has developed as a singer and performer ever since. Over the years Daisy has won a number of regional singing competitions and has regularly sung in Eisteddfodau. Her first singing teacher was Eleri Roberts, who instilled in her a belief in herself as a singer and a love of Welsh folk-songs. She has studied under her current teacher, Mark Evans for the last 3 years, and he has inspired her to try to make singing her career. Daisy auditioned for the major conservatoires last autumn and has accepted a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she’ll be studying for the next four years. She aspires to be an Opera singer and she thanks both Mark, and the Elizabeth Evans Trust for their support.
Gwenllian Haf Richards – Violin
Originally from Neath, Gwenllian has recently been appointed sub co-leader of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. During her five years of study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she has been involved in numerous performances and projects as a dedicated orchestral, solo and chamber musician. Gwenllian was selected to play in the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, Guildhall Jazz Ensembles, Guildhall Baroque Orchestra and has performed regularly with the Society of New Music. Gwenllian is currently pursuing an M.Mus. (Orchestral) qualification via a postgraduate course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama having been successful in gaining awards from the Elizabeth Evans Trust, Countess of Munster Trust, the James Pantyfedwen Foundation, the Ryan Davies Award, and the Joh.E.Mortimer Foundation via the Martyn Musical Scholarship Fund in addition to gaining a scholarship award from the Guildhall itself.
Experience outside college has been gained by playing as a member and co-leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, a principal player in Sinfonia Cymru Orchestra, the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales, the European Youth Orchestra as well as numerous orchestras within London. In addition to this, she has been involved in televised performances with Bryn Terfel at the Faenol Festival and at the Albert Hall, also supporting artists such as Llyr Williams, Chloe Hanslip, Catrin Finch, Peter Donahoe and Andrea Bocelli. As a baroque violinist, Gwenllian has been fortunate to share a platform as a soloist with Rachel Podger and perform frequently with the Purcell Orchestra and St. James Baroque Orchestra . She has performed in numerous concert halls throughout the world as an orchestral and chamber musician. Recent tours include Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea and China. Gwenllian is a founder member of the Mizenus String Quartet who have performed extensively within Britain.
Gwawr Edwards – Opera Singer
Gwawr is a Soprano who was born in Aberystwyth in1984. She graduated in 2006 from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff where she gained an entrance Scholarship. During her third year at The Royal Welsh college of Music and Drama, Gwawr undertook an Erasmus exchange for a term to The Giuseppe Verdi Conservatoire in Turin, Italy.
She is continuing her vocal studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under the tuition of Yvonne Kenny during 2007/08 funded by The Elizabeth Evans Trust
Gwawr has had numerous successes over the years in countless competitions including the prestigious W.Towyn Roberts scholarship award, the Llais Llwyfan Llambed and a finalists at the Mocsa competition in 2007 and 2008. In 2004 she won the Osbourne Roberts Scholarship and the Violet Mary Davies award for most promising soprano at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and hasalso won the solo competition at Llangollen International Eisteddfod, the Urdd Eisteddfod and many other Eisteddfodau.
Gwawr has traveled far and wide entertaining audiences from America to Patagonia and to Beijing.
Since her first visit in concert to America twelve years ago she has returned on a further 6 occasions to the States to perform in concerts and festivals. She traveled to Patagonia in 2000 on a singing tour, and has recently been out to Beijing, China in March 2007 and 2008 where she performed in St David’s day concerts
Gwawr’s credits include: Playing ‘Alice’ in ‘Alice in Wonderland’, being the cover of ‘Dido’ in ‘Dido and Aneas’, a chorus member of ‘Ryder’s to the Sea’ and playing the Lead role of a fellow student’s opera composition (2002-06).
During her time at the Guildhall school of music and Drama she has played ‘Donna Anna’ in a scene from ‘Don Giovanni’, ‘Titania’ in a scene from Midsummer night’s dream, ‘Frasquita’ in a scene from ‘Carmen’, ‘Santuzza’ in a scene from ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ and Nannetta in a scene from Falstaff. She has performed as a soloist in Faure’s requiem, Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s St John’s Passion as well as countless concerts around Wales and the UK. She has also recently participated in a masterclass taken by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and last May she sang the National Anthem at Wembley stadium for an England V USA Football game.
In October she sang for The Prince of Wales at Highgrove, and on the same weekend she was the guest soloist at the Royal Albert Hall for the thousand male voice choirs festival. On March 1st she will sing with the choirs again at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. In July she will be the soprano soloist for Handel’s ‘Creation’ with Birmingham choral society along with a number of concerts across the U.K. To visit her agents website then please click here
Aled Start – Composer
Aled was brought up in an artistic family, taking up the piano very early and beginning the drumkit later on. He developed his skills on both instruments, playing in school and county ensembles. He played with National Youth Jazz Wales and continues to be a member of the Three Counties Youth Big Band. His musical interests are varied and include jazz, world and classical influences, giving birth to a more recent stimulus in the area of composition. He now studies at Trinity College of Music, London from which he has expanded his vision as a composer, studying under Stephen Montague and Deirdre Gribbin amongst others. He has earned himself a place in the forthcoming Young Composers Dyfed and Trinity College of Music string quartet composition competition finals this year. Aled is very grateful to the Elizabeth Evans Trust for enabling him to buy scores and orchestration books.
Matthew Morgans – Stage Manager
Matthew first became involved with theatre in 1994 and studied with Elizabeth Evans for nearly ten years. He then gained a place at central school of speech and drama, Studying for a degree in Production Management, he has since worked on the hit West End Productions of Wicked & Jersey Boys. Matthew is currently the technical swing on the UK tour of Fame! the musical. For more information click here
2007
Laura-Beth Davies – Actor, Musical Theatre
Laura-Beth began her career with the Shirley and Mandy Morris Dance School at the age of 3. She started singing at the age of 8, and is an Associate of the London College of Music and a successful teacher in her own right.
Prior to entering drama school, she was the musical director and choreographer of the Ultimate Stage Company, a youth group based in the Cynon Valley in Wales. She has performed with theatre groups across South Wales, and has sung with Peter Karrie on several occasions. In September 2005 Beth successfully gained a place at the prestigious Mountview Academy of theatre arts, where she graduated with a First class honours degree in Musical Theatre. Beth made her professional debut as Anita in West Side Story in September at the Barbican. Other credits include Belino / Madam D’Urfe in the original cast of Casanova, she performed in Best Friend and Butterflies as part of the Olympic handover celebrations, played Flossie in Sherlock Holmes Murder mystery Tour and was the lead vocalist in Helen of Troy. Beth still works very closely with the Ultimate stage company and in March was able to choreograph their performance in Disneyland Paris as part of the Welsh weekend. Beth also teaches Musical Theatre classes at Bodens Theatre School.
Liz Donovan – Opera Singer
Elizabeth Donovan was born and educated in South Wales, and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music. Her awards include being a Prizewinner in the 2006 Concours International de Chant de Toulouse, a Prizewinner in the 2007 Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition and winner of the 2002 Welsh Singer Competition. In 2003 she represented Wales in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.
Elizabeth was a Welsh National Opera Associate Artist from 2003 to 2006 and was the first recipient of the Marjorie Gill Award as well as the WNO Chris Ball Bursary and the WNO Sir John Moores Award. Roles for the company include Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro, First Lady in The Magic Flute, Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Flowermaiden in Parsifal, Echo in Ariadne auf Naxos and also a concert performance of Brigitta in Iolante at the 2005 BBC Proms. Other roles include Leila in Les Pecheurs des Perles for Chelsea Opera Group.
Operatic roles this season include Constanza in The Abduction from the Seraglio for English Touring Opera and Norina in Don Pasquale for Diva Opera. Future plans include Clorinda in La Cenerentola for Scottish Opera.
Elizabeth will join the National Opera Studio, London in January 2008. To visit her webste click here
Natalie Morgans – Musical Theatre
Natalie Morgan had a lead role in the West End production of The Secret Garden for the Royal Shakespeare Company and has worked with NYMT. Currently studying at Mountview Theatre School
Matthew Morgans – Stage Manager
Matthew first became involved with theatre in 1994 and studied with Elizabeth Evans for nearly ten years. He then gained a place at central school of speech and drama, Studying for a degree in Production Management, he has since worked on the hit West End Productions of Wicked & Jersey Boys. Matthew is currently the technical swing on the UK tour of Fame! the musical. To visit his web site click here
Rhidian Marc – Actor, Musical Theatre
Rhidian is 21 and in his graduating year of a BA(Hons) Acting – Musical Stage Degree at the Central School of Speech and Drama. While at Central he has played roles ranging from Montel/Jesus in Jerry Springer The Opera and Malcolm in Macbeth. Other credits include The Governor of Montevideo – Candide (Welsh National Youth Opera) Enjolras – Les Miserables (20′th Anniversary Gala, Queen’s Theatre) and Marius – Les Miserables (Theatre Ieuenctid Cenedlaethol yr Urdd). Rhidian was a soloist and chorister in the National Youth Choir of Wales and a meber of Wales’ leading choral groups, Only Men Aloud and Serendipity.
He is very grateful to The Elizabeth Evans Trust for their help, and looks forward to starting his career in a few months time.
For more information click here
Gary Griffiths – Opera Singer
25 year-old Welsh baritone Gary Griffiths is currently studying on the Masters vocal course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He initially trained as an actor at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and then went on to study singing at the Guildhall from where he recently completed a BMus with First Class Honours and was awarded the ‘Dove Memorial Prize’ and the ‘Wyburd Trust Award’ for outstanding achievement. He studies with Susan McCulloch.
Gary has recently won the MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition and the Lampeter Eisteddfod Blue Ribbon Competition. He has been awarded an HRH Prince of Wales Advanced Study Award in Music and has recently performed for the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall at Caerphilly Castle. He is this year’s recipient of the Maidment Scholarship, awarded by the Musician’s Benevolent fund. His studies are also supported by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, the Elizabeth Evans Trust and Mr Christopher Ball.
Operatic roles include Belcore L’Elisir D’Amore for British Youth Opera in Tuscany, Ford Falstaff at the Royal Albert Hall (excerpts), Count Almaviva Le Nozze di Figaro, the title role Eugene Onegin, Papageno Die Zauberflöte, Zurga Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Guglielmo Cosi fan Tutte and Dr Malatesta Don Pasquale for GSMD opera scenes. Recent concert engagements include solo debuts at the Royal Albert Hall, the Wigmore Hall and the Barbican Hall, a Schubert lieder recital at Kings Place with Iain Burnside, performances at the Ludlow English Song Weekend with Simon Lepper, the Chipping Campden Music Festival with Joel Harder and Duruflé Requiem with the Orchestra of Johns. In October Gary travelled on tour with the Morriston Orpheus Male Voice Choir as a soloist to Geneva, Switzerland.
In 2007 he attended the Steans Institute for Young Artists at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, USA and made his BBC Radio 3 debut, performing on ‘In Tune’ with Iain Burnside. He also travelled on tour to the US with the Pontarddulais Male Voice Choir as a soloist, performing in Manhattan, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. His passion for the Lieder repertoire has seen him work with many distinguished figures including: Graham Johnson, Iain Burnside, Malcolm Martineau, Sarah Walker, Brian Zeger, Eugene Asti and Ken Noda. His extensive oratorio repertoire includes Mozart’s Requiem and C Minor Mass, Haydn’s The Seasons, The Nelson Mass and the Paukenmesse, Brahms Requiem, Fauré Requiem, Handel’s Messiah and Karl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
Future plans include The Dog and The Innkeeper The Cunning Little Vixen for Grange Park Opera, a dramatised song performance at Kings Place directed by Iain Burnside, a recital at Birmingham Symphony Hall, the final of The Guildhall School’s Gold Medal competition, he will participate in the Samling Foundation masterclass week run by Sir Thomas Allen and in September 2009 Gary will join the prestigious opera course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. To visit his web site click here
Iwan Hedd Lewis – Actor, Musical Theatre
Iwan currently is in his second year at The Guildford School of Acting.
Iwan’s first role in musical theatre was with the Carmarthen and District youth opera’s 2004 show, Singing in the Rain, playing the part of Don Lockwood. Since then Iwan has performed in a number of shows throughout the UK, including Les Miserables (Longborough Festival Opera and MJ-UK productions) playing the role of Marius. Other shows include Sound of Music (Captain Von Trapp); Oklahoma; West Side Story (Action); We Will Rock You (Galileo) and The Secret Garden (Dickon).
GSA Productions
Surtees Cook in Robert and Elizabeth, Apollo in The Orestia, Antipholus of Syracuse in Comedy of Errors, Gideon in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Leading Soloist in the highly acclaimed GSA singers who tour throughout the UK
Iwan is very grateful for the help he has received from the Elizabeth Evans trust.
Elen Hâf Richards – Violinist
Elen Haf Richards is a first-class honorary graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London where she accepted a full scholarship. She studied the violin under the guidance of Mateja Marinkovic and Mayumi Fujikawa and she also studied harp as a secondary study with Charlotte Seal. She achieved distinction in the ABRSM Diploma whilst attending school in 2001.
In 2008, Elen was appointed a member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London and has also performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the English National Ballet. She has been appointed second violin leader of the National Symphony Orchestra who recently supported Katherine Jenkins on her solo tour. Elen has also been a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra 2006-2007, Sinfonia Cymru, Chamber Orchestra of Wales was leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales for three years.
Elen has been involved in televised performances with Bryn Terfel at the Faenol Festival and at the Albert Hall with massed Welsh Male Voice Choirs. She has also supported Russell Watson on his nationwide tour, Kanye West, Maxim Vengarov, Joshua Bell, Peter Donahoe, Chloe Hanslip, Thomas Carroll, Willard White and many more et al whilst a member of these orchestras.
Elen has been kindly supported by the Elizabeth Evans Trust, Russell Shepperd Memorial Scholarship, the Craxton Memorial Award, Ryan Davies Awards and the Pantyfedwen Trust for her studies at the Academy. To email Elen please click here
Emily-Jane Thomas – Opera Singer
Emily-Jane was born in Cardiff. Last July, she graduated with a first-class Masters degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, for which she was kindly supported by the Elizabeth Evans Trust, the Sir John Cass Foundation, the Worshipful Company of Innholders, the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and the Susan Chilcott Scholarship. In 2005, she studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Hamburg, on an Erasmus exchange with William Workman. Emily’s scene credits include Despina, Papagena, Susanna, Barbarina, Adele, Cunegonde, Gilda, Madame Goldentrill and Zerbinetta. She played the role of Juliet in S4C’s 2001 television production of ‘The Little Sweep’, and Paquette in Welsh National Youth Opera’s production of ‘Candide’ (Cardiff, 2005). Other roles include Elmire in Erwin und Elmire (Anna Amalia, GSMD), and Phyllis in Iolanthe. Emily’s recital experience includes Fauré’s Requiem, Tippett’s Spirituals from A Child of our Time (UK tour with National Youth Choir of Wales, 2005), Dvorak’s Stabat Mater (St. Ives, 2007), Haydn’s Creation with Sir David Willcocks, and various recitals at LSO St. Luke’s, City of London livery halls, Christchurch Spitalfields and St. Lawrence Jewry. Emily’s plans include British Youth Opera Easter workshops, Glyndebourne chorus 2009, and her third undertaking as a director for Britten’s The Turn of the Screw (London, 2010). She continues to study privately with her teacher, Yvonne Kenny.
Owain Williams – Actor, Musical Theatre
A native of South Wales, Owain took his first musical theatre steps at the Lyric Theatre with the Carmarthen & District Youth Opera; credits include: My Fair Lady (Freddy), Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik – awarded the Owen Picton Award for outstanding performance), and Les Miserables (Marius). He then attended Warwick University to study a law degree, and became heavily involved with the drama, musical theatre and dance societies; credits include: Clockheart Boy (Springs), Cymbeline (Arviragus), Return to the Forbidden Planet (Cookie), Honk! (Drake), Fame (Joe Vegas), The Wild Party (Black), Copacabana (Tony), The Rocky Horror Show (Frank N. Furter), A Chorus Line (Director) all at the Warwick Arts Centre, as well as choreographing for the university street dance society, and providing vocals for the university jazz band in such venues as Hampton Court Palace and the Toronto Jazz Festival. Owain has also performed on the Edinburgh Fringe stage for two years, gaining 5-Star reviews in Kenspeck Theatre’s production of Putting it Together (Man 2), and Echo Productions’ Songs for a New World (Man 1), as well as playing the role of Tony in West Side Story at the RSC’s Courtyard Theatre as part of their Complete Works Festival. He recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with a Postgraduate Diploma in Musical Theatre and a DipRAM for Outstanding Public Performance, as well as the Toni V Feel Prize for Speech and Song. Credits whilst training: Jeffrey (Jeffrey), The Boys From Syracuse (Antipholus of Syracuse), Much Ado About Nothing (Don John), Company (Robert). He is currently appearing in The Phantom of the Opera on London’s West End (ensemble/understudy Raoul). To visit his agents website please click here
2006
Sioned Saunders – Actress
Sioned was born and raised in South Wales and trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
She is currently the female understudy and covering the lead role of Betty Schaeffer in the Olivier Nominated Sunset Boulevard at the Comedy Theatre, London, directed by Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood.
Theatre credits include: Mollie in Animal Farm (West Yorkshire Playhouse, dir. Nikolai Foster); John Doyle’s production of Amadeus (Wilton’s Music Hall); Penny in Honk! (Watermill, Newbury); Jane Smart in the Welsh premiere of The Witches of Eastwick (New Theatre, Cardiff); Opening of the Wales Millennium Centre directed by Ken Caswell; Marigold in Tickledom (Wales Millennium Centre); Louise in the World Premiere of Only the Brave (New Theatre, Cardiff).
Television credits include Shelley in Casualty for BBC.
Sioned is extremely grateful for the suport she received from The Elizabeth Evans Trust and hopes that the Trust can continue to assist young performers to develop their careers. To visit her spotlight page click here, or to visit her agent please click here
Jamie Hutchinson – Violin
Born and educated in Tenby, South Wales, Jamie Hutchinson currently lives and works as a freelance violinist in London. Jamie graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music with BMus(hons) and MMus distinction having led several of the college’s orchestras and taken part in access schemes with the BBC Philharmonic and Halle orchestras.
Since moving to London Jamie has enjoyed working with professional orchestras such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra and City of London Chamber Orchestra, and she is frequently invited back to the North West of England to perform with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Jamie is also in demand as a session musician, recording classical material and working with bands such as The Kooks, and appearing on live TV with artists such as Leona Lewis, Paul Potts, Westlife and Il Divo.
Jamie travels extensively as a performer both around the UK and internationally. Highlights of 2009 included a cruise to Egypt and the Suez Canal with her piano trio and a tour of The Czech Republic as a guest artiste with Pontnewydd Male Voice Choir. She also travels to Frankfurt when possible in order to study with esteemed performer and teacher Markus Daunert.
Teaching and education work are very important to Jamie and she has held the post of violin tutor at Manchester High School for Girls since the final year of her Undergraduate studies. She has also delivered workshops at and on behalf of many of the countries leading ensembles and concert venues, working with young people of diverse backgrounds and musicians of many genres.
Jamie plays on a Richard Duke violin c.1780 on kind loan from the Tomkins Tate Trust. To visit her web site then please click here
Elizabeth Jones – Trumpet
Elizabeth is currently studying trumpet at thye Royal Northern College of Music with John Miller.
Originally from Cardiff, she has been a member of many ensembles, including the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Welsh National Youth Opera and has recently worked with the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera.
Elizabeth has also received tuition at the Junior Welsh College of Music and Drama and during this time she performed the Hummel trumpet concerto with the college orchestra.
After finishing her studies in Manchester, Elizabeth hopes to pursue a successful career as a professional musician.
Gruffudd Glyn – Actor
Gruffudd Glyn is 20 years old and is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Originally from Cardiff, he attended Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf.
Gruffudd Glyn is in his second year and he has already taken part in RADA productions of Little Eyolf by Henrik Ibsen and has played Shylock in the Merchant of Venice.
Since leaving RADA Gruffudd has been in Romeo and Julliet for the Theatre of Memory Company. Future plans include Winters Tale and Julius Caeser for the RSC at Stratford, where Gruffudd will be a company member for the next two and a half years.
Camile Butcher – Opera Singer
Camille Butcher (Soprano) was born in Wales in 1980 and studied singing at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama graduating in 2006. Since then, Camille has been studying in Germany with Professor Christiane Hampe at the Karlsruhe Opera School and the Lübeck Music School with Gerard Quinn on a post-graduate vocal studies course. Whilst in Cardiff, she sang the roles of First Witch in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Sœur Constance (in part) in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, Mabel (in part) in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance and Frog in Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen. She also won the 1st prize in The Monmouth Society Singing Prize 2006 and was later invited by the society as a soloist to sing Händel’s Messiah. Camille has performed in many of the Karlsruhe Opera School’s producti-ons, major roles include Die Kluge in Carl Orff’s Die Kluge and Sophie (in part) from Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier. Camille’s success as a singer has led her to the professional concert and operatic stage as a soloist with performances of Mahler’s Symphony no. 4 conducted by Manfred Schreier, a recital at Lübeck’s Brahms Festival 2008 and her appearance in the role of Barbarina in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro for Theater Pforzheim last season. In June 2008, she appeared on the radio as a soloist for the first time, singing Ann Trulove’s Aria and Cabaletta from Stravinsky’s opera The Rake’s Progress on Deutschlandradio Kultur. This radio debut was recently followed by a performance of the bravura aria from Bernstein’s Candide, „Glitter and be Gay“ on Nord Deutschland Radio Kultur. In January, Camille sang the role of Laura from Carl Millöcker’s Der Bettelstudent at the Musikhochschule Lübeck. Future projects include the role of Anna Reich in an open air production of Otto Nicolai’s Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor in July 2009 and a contract with the Zürich Opera House as a member of the International Opera Studio starting in August 2009.
Kayley Davies-Richards - Drama Therapy
Kayley currently studying in her final year Drama BA(Hons) at UWE Bristol, and is thrilled to be so involved in the Performing Arts. Since recieving her grant she has used the money to join numerous companies in and around Bristol, giving her the opportunity to audition for BLOC (Bristol Light Opera Club), and perform in ‘Me and My Girl’ at the Bristol Hippodrome. In addition to this she has performed the principle role of Mme Dubonnet, in ‘The Boyfriend’, at the Redgrave Theatre with the Bristol CPA (Centre of Performing Arts). Having such an interest in Psychology, Kayley has recently looked into employment in Drama Therapy, and is keen to work in Paediatrics within this area. Looking into postgraduate courses involved with Drama Therapy and Applied Therapy,she no longer wants to do Drama, but instead use it to encourage others to become involved in the arts, and apply it to their everyday functions and communications.
Sophie Brown – Actress, Musical Theatre
Sophie is originally from Swansea, South Wales and is now 21 years of Age. Educated at Birchgrove Comprehensive School and undertook a successful BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts at Gorseinon College Swansea achieving best of year results with 3 Distinctions. Sophie is currently undertaking a BA (Hons) in Acting for Musical Stage at Central School of Speech and Drama and is presently in her second year of Training. Whilst at Central Sophie had undertaken the lead roles of Renyevskya in Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard; Viola in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night; she played both lead parts of Catherine and Beatrice in View from the bridge; Amanda in the restoration comedy The Relapse and is currently in rehearsal for Sweeny Todd taking the part of Mrs. Lovett. Sophie was also extremely honored to be able to be involved in the third year production of Jerry Springer the Opera where she was part of the ensemble. During her time at Central Sophie has also been involved in an outside professional show in her home town. Swansea Girls is a new musical and the main character Keely was especially written for Sophie herself. After the huge success of the show a sequel has now been written which she is presently in rehearsal for.
Other experience in the entertainment world to date has been varied and includes musicals, being a member of a Pop Group, personal radio appearances, pantomime, musical reviews and charity solo and group Gigs.
Sophie is excited about her future in Acting on stage and screen and would like to thank The Elizabeth Evans Trust for all their help and support.
Gemma Thomas – Stage Manager
Gemma Thomas, a former pupil of Sandfields Comprehensive School, studied on the BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts at Gorseinon College and followed this with the BTEC National Certificate in Production Arts.
Having passed both courses with flying colours, Gemma went on to study the Diploma in Technical Theatre and Stage Management at RADA. She had applied to several of the most prestigious colleges in the UK and was accepted by each of them!
At this time, Gemma was also an active member of the highly-acclaimed West Glamorgan Youth Theatre Company.
Such was the impression made during her work experience project on the production team of “Lord of the Rings” that, on completion of her Diploma, Gemma was immediately offered a post on the Stage Management Team for the stage musical, “Billy Elliott” and is enjoying her first professional engagement.
Laura Morris – Soprano
Originally from Dafen, Llanelli she has recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama receiving a Distinction in Performance. She completed a BMus Hons degree at the college in 2006 gaining a 2.1 Hons.
Stiletto
The Elizabeth Evans Trust funded the involvement of three young actors Michael Rae Formston, Kayley Davies Richards and David Tomlin to take part in an independant film, created by Christine Morris, a former member of Carmarthen Youth Opera with Elizabeth Evans.
Stiletto is the story of one woman’s desire for a pair of red shoes and the lengths that she goes to in order to get them.
Katie Palmer is having a really bad day, so when she sees a pair of red stilettos in a shop window, she knows she just has to have them. If she owned those shoes, then her everything in her life would be OK. But her day goes from bad to worse when she loses her job, gets mugged and ends up in hopspital. She limps away from A&E and after buying bottle of vodka with a crumpled £10 note she finds in her pocket, she decides to break into her old office and steal her boss’s lap-top for shoe money. She is caught by the security guard and thrown out onto the street. There she meets a lady of the night who shares her words of wisdom with Katie. Surely Katie won’t follow down that path? But the lure of the shoes is too much for her, and she is then arrested for soliciting and thrown into a police cell.
The next morning, unkempt and unhinged, she stumbles back to the shop where she witnesses a woman about to walk off with the red stilettos. But Katie knows that those shoes belong to her. This woman must be stopped!
How far would you go to get what you want…….?