Simon Ashmead - Tenor

The many different way to sing "Miles"

Some wonderful action shots from yesterday's dress regearsal for Britten's Turn of the Screw in Trinity Laban's Opera Scenes at Blackheath Halls.

📷 Nathan Pallotto

Still a few tickets left to see this wonderful performance of the St John Passion by J.S. Bach, use the link or a few tickets available on the door. See you there...

I am very much looking forward to singing the role of Evangelist in this upcoming performance of J.S. Bach's St John Passion along with my friends and colleagues in the Old Royal Naval College Chapel Choir and The Brandenburg Baroque Soloists. If you're able, it'd be wonderful to have you come along and be part of this special musical offering:

https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/whats-on/event/trinity-laban-chapel-choir-x-brandenburg-consort/

In follow-up to yesterday's exciting announcement, I am delighted to say that am also evangelising for the wonderful Northampton Bach Choir performance of Bach's St John Passion. Do come along if you're free and able:

https://www.wegottickets.com/event/606112/

I am very much looking forward to singing the role of Evangelist in this upcoming performance of J.S. Bach's St John Passion along with my friends and colleagues in the Old Royal Naval College Chapel Choir and The Brandenburg Baroque Soloists. If you're able, it'd be wonderful to have you come along and be part of this special musical offering:

https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/whats-on/event/trinity-laban-chapel-choir-x-brandenburg-consort/

While you know Rachel and Ben’s musical endeavours well enough (given their constant presence shifting chairs, welcoming and organising), let’s reacquaint you with tomorrow’s tenor, former Hull Minster choral scholar Simon Ashmead.

Simon Ashmead is an award-winning British tenor who has performed across the UK and internationally in France, Malta and the Netherlands.

Simon is currently studying at Trinity Laban Conservatoire with Dominic Natoli, where he is a recipient of the Kathleen Creed and Morag Noble Scholarships, and was awarded Best Male Vocalist at the 2019 International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival.

Simon’s performances range from soloist to choral to the opera stage, and he is a member and choral scholar of the acclaimed Old Royal Naval College Chapel Choir in Greenwich. His oratorio soloist work includes Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Bach’s and Saint Säens’ Christmas Oratorios, Händels Messiah, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit, and Evangelist in Bach’s St John’s Passion. He has also taken on operatic roles such as Siegfried in Götterdämmerung, Peter Quint in Britten’s Turn of the Screw, Victor Frankenstein in the UK Premier of Libby Larsen’s Frankenstein, Hoffman in Tales of Hoffman, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Bothwell in Mary, Queen of Scots, Bobil in The Snow Maiden, and Abdallo in Nabucco. His chorus roles include Macbeth, Götterdämmerung Longborough Festival Opera, Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges, Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, Smetana’s Bartered Bride and Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera. Upcoming performances will include appearances in Longborough Festival Opera’s Ring Cycle, as well as Opéra de Baugé’s performances of Carmen, L’elisir d’amore, and Verdi’s Don Carlo.

As well as performing well-loved standard repertoire, Simon particularly enjoys exploring lesser-known composers and works, especially Twentieth and Twenty First Century English art song.

Let’s find out a bit more about our new bass, Alex Hardy!

Alex is currently studying his BMus in Vocal Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where he studies as a Bass-Baritone with Professor Robert Alderson, and Choral Conducting with Dr Ralph Allwood MBE. Recently Alex has performed as a principal role in the Trinity Laban Postgraduate Opera Scenes, singing roles such as Truffaldino (Ariadne auf Naxos), Mr. Fezziwig (A Christmas Carol), Bartolo (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Crespel (Les Contes D’Hoffmann).
This year, Alex is one of two students at Trinity Laban to be asked to conduct the Chamber Choir for the Conservatoire’s first ever student lead chamber choir project. Alex often performs as a soloist for Choral Society Workshops and Concerts, notably with Luminosa Choirs, The Northampton Bach Choir and Wimbledon Choral Society – where he sang the baritone solo in Cecilia McDowall’s Da Vinci Requiem under the direction of Neil Ferris.

Alongside his studies, Alex is a Dame Susan Morden Choral Scholar in the Old Royal Naval College Trinity Laban Chapel Choir where, as well as singing, he regularly conducts the choir and performs as an organist. Alex is a regular member of the BBC Symphony Chorus and has previously been selected to sing in semi-choruses of large-scale works, in addition to being selected to perform in The Last Night of the Proms 2023. During his time with the chorus, he has worked with world-class conductors such as Marin Alsop, Martyn Brabbins and Neil Ferris.

Just over a week has gone past, and the reality still hasn't fully sunk in of the wonderful whirlwind experience that was playing the titular character in Trinity Laban's production of Libby Larsen's Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus.

It was such an amazing project to be a part of, and what made it so special was the incredible team that we had both on and off stage, all of whom gave their all and worked together to help realise this late twentieth century operatic retelling of this classic sci-fi tale. Thanks to all from the bottom of my heart, and to all who came to see us as well.



📷 Briony Campbell

In a fortnight, I am fortunate enough to be playing the role of the great (mad?) scientist Victor Frankenstein in this exciting upcoming production of Libby Larsen's exciting operatic portrayal of the sci fi classic that kicked it all off.

Everyone involved has put in an immense amount of work, and it promises to be something very special, so be sure not to miss it if you can make it!

P.S.
I'll be in the evening performances on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th of July, but come along to any of the shows if you can, they'll all be great!

The Trinity Laban Opera is on the horizon and this year it's... Frankenstein, Or The Modern Prometheus. It's an Opera by Libby Larsen - one of America's most performed living composers.

Join us at Black Heath Halls, Thu 6 - Sat 8 Jul. We all know the story, but have you seen it as an Opera before!? Get your tickets here: https://ow.ly/XLHB50OP8zE

For anyone who is interested in a postgrad course specifically geared towards becoming a choral animateur

Exciting news.

Want to become a Choral Animateur?
Want to learn by working with a vibrant choral education strategy?
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Please do share widely/spread the word!

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All set for this evening at the Sheldonian Theatre with the Oxford University Philharmonia, and my very own dressing room no less!