2016 Performer Profiles:

No.8 – Rachel Ambrose Evans (soprano)

Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth introduces one more of the outstanding performers taking part in the 2016 Southwell Music Festival.

“Each year one of the most demanding – but also most fulfilling – aspects of organising the Festival is creating the ensemble of singers and players. It is a multi-dimensional jigsaw which takes some time to complete and sometimes you wonder if it will ever come together. However there is immense satisfaction in booking a choir and orchestra made up of massively talented individuals – of whom Rachel Ambrose Evans is just one example – and then of course getting to conduct them!”

Please introduce yourself

“I’m a freelance soprano and have been living in London for the last three years. My first instrument was the violin and I read Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and did my final recital on the baroque violin.

“Having not really done much singing before my degree I was quite surprised to get a place to sing with the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge under Stephen Layton in my final year. Singing has taken over my musical life and I now sing with various consorts and choirs including The Tallis Scholars, Polyphony and Dunedin Consort.”

What are you most looking forward to singing at the Festival?

“I’m really looking forward to the Modern Meets Medieval words and music programme including Britten, Ades and James MacMillan and, of course, Gerontius on Saturday.

“I generally sing a lot of early music so it’s such a treat to tackle some later repertoire. I secretly wish I could join in the performance of Strauss Metamorphosen too, and will definitely be getting a ticket somehow.”

What projects do you have coming up after the Festival?

“After Southwell I’ll be doing the last few concerts of a touring project with the Marian Consort of some yummy Gesualdo, then gearing up for Bach Mass in B minor with Amici Voices. We’ll be performing it with just 10 singers, so I need to make sure it’s really sung in.

“I’m also excited to be travelling to Scandinavia for the first time to perform a staged version of Handel Messiah at the Bergen Opera in 2017. I’m a bit mad about Scandi Drama so am doubly excited about that trip!”