Performers

Orchestra

Violin Maja Horvat

Viola Nicholas Hughes

Cello Andrew Harsley

Double Bass Daniel Tancredi

Flute, Piccolo & Alto Flute Kristin Hammerseth

Oboe & Cor Anglais Richard Lines-Davies

Clarinet & Bass Clarinet Melissa Youngs

Soprano & Alto Saxophone Alzbeta Klasova

Tenor & Baritone Saxophone Sara Mendez Arias

Trumpet Ruby Orlowska

Trombone James Bluff

Percussion Max Heaton (principal) Adam Cracknell Joe Parks

Harp Ines Cavalheiro

Piano & Synthesiser David Smith

Orchestra personnel correct at time of going to print

For the Royal College of Music

Performance, Programming and Faculty Manager Flo Ambrose

Orchestra Manager Phil Sizer

Concert and Venue Manager Katie Clay

Orchestra Assistant Amy Whitaker

Performance & Programming Officer Emma Diss

Front of House Manager Melissa Gerber-Venter

Alice Ruxandra Bell

Mezzo Soprano Alice Ruxandra Bell is currently studying with Janis Kelly. London-born and raised in France, Alice has participated in numerous musical courses and projects, taking up the cello at a young age and then through singing later on. She was a part of the Opera Junior chorus in Der Jasager at the Opéra de Montpellier, and also performed the role of Doris in Les Festes de L’Eté at the Opéra de Rennes. Alice is now in her fourth year at the College and has performed roles such as Eduige from Handel’s Rodelinda in Opera Scenes and Second Lady from The Magic Flute. Last term, she covered Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Dominic Bevan

Dominic Bevan is a postgraduate student studying with Timothy Evans-Jones. He is an RCM Award Holder supported by a Sir Gordon Palmer Scholarship. Dominic first studied English and French Law, but after five years working in financial services, he decided to embrace a career as a tenor soloist in 2015. Since moving to London he has been involved in various RCM operas, and he has also been the tenor soloist in notable oratorio performances such as Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s Creation and Monteverdi’s Vespers with His Majestys Sackbutts and Cornetts. Recent opera roles include Tamino in Die Zauberflöte for Westminster Opera. This summer, Dominic will sing the role of Orphée for Opera de Baugé’s production of Offenbach’s Orphée aux Enfers.

Anna Cooper

Anna is about to finish her Masters Degree and is a Soirée d’Or Scholar supported by the Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust, the Yorkshire Ladies Council of Education and the Josephine Baker Trust. She is delighted to be continuing her studies at the RCM International Opera School in September where she will be performing the role of Cherubino in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, directed by Sir Thomas Allen. On the concert platform, Anna most recently performed as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic orchestra in Cadogan Hall’s Myths and Fairytales series, conducted by Alexander Shelley.

Rosanna Cooper

Rosanna Cooper is a mezzo-soprano currently studying with Rosa Mannion. She is a TSH Prince Donatus and Princess Heidi Von Hohenzollern Scholar and is also supported by the Josephine Baker Trust. In 2017 Rosanna joined the English Touring Opera to cover the role of Sesto in Handel’s Giulio Cesare and was lucky enough to perform the role twice. Rosanna recently made her solo debut with the Royal College of Music’s International Opera School where she sang the role of Helen in Chabrier’s Une Education Manquee.

Samuel James Dewese

American baritone Samuel James Dewese is rapidly making a name for himself as an evocative artist throughout the United States and beyond. Samuel is an RCM Scholar supported by the Vivian Prins Award and studies with Graeme Broadbent. Recent highlights include Eugene Onegin at the RCM and solo appearances with Portsmouth Festival Choir and Highgate Choral Society. Samuel has twice been a district winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He was also a grand finalist in the 2017 Hariclea Darclée International Singing Competition, and a semi-finalist in the Francisco Viñas International Singing Contest 2018.

Rosalind Dobson

Rosalind Dobson studied English Literature at Magdalene College Cambridge, and is now a second year Masters student studying with Sally Burgess. Operatic roles include Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring); Cunegonde (Candide); Fiordiligi (Cosí fan Tutte); Miss Jessel (The Turn of the Screw); Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro); Tytania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Nella (Gianni Schicchi); and The Young Vixen (The Cunning Little Vixen). Rosalind has also appeared in the RCM opera scenes as Susanna, Despina, Elmira (Sosarme), Agnès (Written on Skin) and Semele. She is a Helen Marjorie Tonks Scholar supported by the Kathleen Trust.

Peter Edge

Peter Edge is a baritone studying his Masters degree, supported by the Walker Trust. Competition successes include the International Medal at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and a Highly Commended in the Kathleen Ferrier Bursary Competition. Peter’s opera roles include Alfio (Cavalleria Rusticana); Papageno (Die Zauberflöte); and Masetto (Don Giovanni) – where he toured France and the UK. Chorus highlights include The Merry Widow, Otello and Simon Boccanegra and Orfeo with the Longborough Festival Opera. Peter is also in demand as an oratorio soloist and has recently performed Bach’s St John Passion, Handel’s Messiah and Haydn’s Creation. He made his TV debut on S4C, at Llangollen, and also appeared in the BBC film Florence Foster Jenkins. In addition, he regularly sings on live BBC Radio and is a BBC Introducing Young Artist.

Guy Elliott

Guy Elliott is a young tenor from Surrey. At the RCM this year, Guy has performed in a masterclass with Sir Thomas Allen and he also performed alongside Roger Vignoles in a French Song concert. He is supported by the Sir Roger and Lady Carr Soirée d’Or Scholarship and Help Musicians UK. Recent external highlights include Messiah (Handel) at the Royal Albert Hall; Nelson Mass (Haydn) in Riga Cathedral, Latvia; and Stimmung (Stockhausen) at the Barbican Hall. Guy has covered Telemachus in Monteverdi’s Ulysses’ Homecoming and Mercurio in Cavalli’s La Calisto for ETO. He has also worked with the Education Department of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Milly Forrest

Milly Forrest graduated with First Class honours in July 2017 and is now a Masters student studying with Alison Wells and Gary Matthewman. In July 2017 Milly stood in for the Wigmore Hall’s last song concert of the season, performing alongside Elizabeth Watts, Mary Bevan, Benjamin Appl and many others. On the operatic stage, she has played Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, Nora in Riders to the Sea and Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte. Last spring, she worked with Laurence Cummings on a baroque dance project with the Royal Academy as part of the London Handel Festival. Milly has just won the College’s English song prize and this summer she will be performing Miranda in The Enchanted Island with British Youth Opera. Milly is an Opperby Stokowski Award Holder supported by the Minerva Foundation and the Josephine Baker Trust.

Laura Hocking

British mezzo soprano Laura Hocking is currently a first year Masters student studying with Rosa Mannion and Gary Matthewman. She is a TSH Prince Donatus and Princess Heidi Von Hohenzollern Scholar and is also supported by the Mario Lanza Educational Foundation. Operatic experience includes the title role in Dido and Aeneas (Hurn Court Opera); La Grosse Dame in Les Mamelles de Tirésias (RCMIOS); and Zweite Damme in Die Zauberflöte (Broadstone Music Series). In RCM Opera Scenes she has performed the roles of Dorabella, Juno, Hermia, Ramiro and Xerxes.

Samuel Jenkins

British tenor Samuel Jenkins is an H R Taylor Trust Scholar currently studying with David Rendall. His operatic roles have included Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Remendado (Carmen) and Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus) with Edinburgh Studio Opera; Coridon (Acis and Galatea) with Glasgow Opera Collective and BarokOpera Amsterdam (cover); and Don Eusebio (L’occasione fa il ladro) with Raucous Rossini. Samuel has also appeared as Ferrando (Così fan tutte) in RCM Opera Scenes, and performed solo and chorus roles in King Arthur in Edinburgh, L’Elisir D’Amore in Florence and Dido and Aeneas in Lausanne.

Edward Jowle

Baritone Edward Jowle is an undergraduate studying with Russell Smythe and Gary Matthewman. He is an RCM Scholar supported by the Josephine Baker Trust. Recent work includes Papageno (Die Zauberflöte/Westminster Opera); Baritone Chorus (Dardanus) and cover Curio (Giulio Cesare/English Touring Opera); Snug (A Midsummer Night’s Dream/ RCMIOS); Masetto (Don Giovanni/Euphonia Studio); Alidoro (La Cenorentola/ London Young Sinfonia) and Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance/Grosvenor Light Opera). Future performances include Elviro (Serse) for Accademia Europea Dell’Opera and Falke (Die Fledermaus) for Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore. Edward will continue his studies at the College in September as a postgraduate student.

George Longworth

George Longworth is a Masters student studying as a tenor with Sally Burgess. He is the Charles Branchini Scholar and a member of the Josephine Baker Trust scheme. George’s extensive childhood singing and acting career has included leading roles at the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Young Vic and Opera North; musical theatre with Andrew Lloyd Webber; and a Radio 4 play with Jim Broadbent. George performed the role of Puck in the RCM International Opera School’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream this spring. As an actor, he is represented by Roger Carey Associates.

Peter Martin

Peter Martin currently studies with Russell Smythe and is supported by the Harpenden Music Foundation. While at the University of Leeds, he was awarded the Lord Snowden and Toothill Performance Awards. Previous roles include Frederic (Pirates of Penzance); Alfredo (Fledermaus); Damon (Acis and Galatea); Filch (The Beggar’s Opera); Spolleta (Tosca); Rinnucio (Gianni Schicchi) and Beppe (I Pagliacci). Peter has performed at the Grimebourne and Têteà-Tête festivals in London and premiered many new works including Will Todd’s If I Had Wings (performed at the Royal Albert Hall), Simone Spagnolo’s The Colour Blue and Dan Chappell’s Liturgie.

Timothy Morgan

Tim Morgan is a postgraduate scholar, a Samling artist and winner of the 2014 Junior Kathleen Ferrier Competition. He is a Theo Max van der Beugel Scholar supported by an Alice Templeton Award and the Josephine Baker Trust. Previous work includes performances on BBC 3’s Music Matters; Handel’s Giulio Cesare (cover Cesare) with the English Touring Opera; Berenice (Arsace) with the La Nuova Musica; Faramondo (Gernando) for RCM international opera school; a European tour of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo and Vespers with The Monteverdi Choir and Sir John Eliot Gardiner; Handel’s Esther (High Priest) at the London Handel Festival; Bach’s St John Passion with the Hanover Band; and Blow’s Venus and Adonis with the Dunedin Consort.

Sahel Salam

Originally from Texas, Sahel Salam is a Masters student in Vocal Performance who has performed and trained in a wide range of musical styles. Previous performances include Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte; Jack in Sondheim’s Into the Woods; and Vincent in Gounod’s forgotten opera, Mireille. Sahel has also played several tenor characters in Austin’s Bach Cantata Project. He has performed operatically both at home in Texas and abroad in Salzburg, Austria and Perigeuex, France. Sahel was placed as a semi-finalist in the 2017 Classical Singer Competition in Boston among hundreds of auditionees from around the US. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin under the instruction of renowned tenor William Lewis and conductor Kelly Kuo. He is generously supported by an Alice Templeton Scholarship.

James Schouten

High baritone James Schouten completed his BMus at Goldsmiths, University of London, with Nan Christie. He is currently in his first year of his Masters in Performance studying with Tim Evans- Jones and is generously sponsored by Mrs Linda Hill HonRCM. His previous operatic roles include Demetrius, Harlekin, Papageno, Escamillo, Don Giovanni, Silvio, Marcello and Eisenstein. James recently played the role of Starveling in RCMIOS’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Recent contemporary projects include the role of Rupert Brooke in David Earl’s Strange Ghost; Nebuchednezzar in Joseph Cabon’s To Himself, Alone; and a performance in Simone Spagnolo’s Even you lights, cannot hear me.

Poppy Shotts

Yorkshire-born soprano Poppy Shotts is currently studying as a Derek Butler Scholar with Alison Wells and Caroline Dowdle on the Master of Performance course. Poppy graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2017 where she studied with Clare Shearer and Julia Lynch. Competition success includes winning the RCS Governors’ Recital Prize for Chamber Music, and receiving Highly Commended in the Lieder Competition at the RCM. Poppy recently performed French song with Roger Vignoles, and made her solo debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cadogan Hall in Grieg’s Peer Gynt.

Rebecca Silverman

Rebecca Silverman is a postgraduate student and a Carne Trust Scholar studying with Dinah Harris. Since 2012, she has performed annually at the Coopers’ Livery Company banquet which takes place at Mansion House in the presence of the Lord Mayor of London. She is also a regular performer at other livery company events held in the City of London. Rebecca has participated in masterclasses conducted by artists such as Roger Vignoles, Jonathan Lemalu, Mhairi Lawson and Mark Tucker. In 2016, she became Essex Young Musician of the Year. In July 2017, Rebecca will be understudy for Anush Hovhannisyan in the role of Adina in L’elisir d’amore at the New Generation Festival in Florence.