During our centenary season 2021/22 we were delighted to appoint two choral scholars - Harim Oh (soprano) and Gisele Bustamente (mezzosoprano). They supported the choir in rehearsals and performed solo pieces in the St Cecilia Centenary Celebration concert on 11 June 2022.
We are delighted that Harim has continued as our Choral Scholar in 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Emily Christian, soprano, was our choral scholar in 2020/21. She began her choral career as a chorister at Rochester Cathedral and gained a scholarship to The Purcell School for Sixth Form studying voice, flute and piano. She has been a member of The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, The London Youth Choirs, and was a soloist on Gareth Malone’s CD, A Great British Christmas.
Emily studied a Bachelor of Music at Royal Holloway University of London and as choral scholar with the university chapel choir, sang services and concerts around the UK, Europe and north America.
During lockdown, she made recordings for Royal Holloway Chapel Choir’s charity single with Laura Wright, Can You Hear Me, the National Anthem for ITV’s coverage of Royal Ascot. Emily supported our zoom rehearsals during the pandemic of 2020/21 and continues to sing in our concerts from time to time.
Vicki Hodges, soprano, was our choral scholar in 2019/20. She studied at Morley College Opera Schoo
l, the Conservatorio Arrigo Boito di Parma, Italy and Newcastle University. She has performed in the wings of the Royal Opera House for the Mariinsky Ballet, the Royal Albert Hall and as a soloist for The Armed Man (Jenkins) at the Sage Gateshead. Recent operatic engagements include The Barber of Seville (Surrey Opera), The Merry Widow (Betchworth Opera), Carmen (as Mercedes for New London Opera Group) and in Don Giovanni at the Minack (Surrey Opera). Vicki also runs choirs for people affected by cancer in Chelsea and Sutton for Tenovus Cancer Care.
Soprano Francesca Pringle was our Choral Scholar in 2018/19. Francesca is studying for a Masters in music at the Royal Academy of Music. She has sung with many choirs in a wide variety of venues, including English Cathedrals and on tour to Norway, Paris and Barcelona. She has also received choral scholarships from St George’s Beckenham and St Matthew’s Westminster.
Francesca continues to perform solos in our concerts and joined us for our concert tours in 2019 and 2023.
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Benjamin Jerrard was the first recipient of the Judith McEwan Choral Scholarship of St Cecilia Chorus in 2017/18.
He is a classical tenor whose passion for singing started at the age of 11 when he joined the Chapel Choir at The John Fisher School under the leadership of Alan Murdoch. Benjamin was awarded a choral scholarship at St Michael’s Church, Cornhill and graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Ben supported our zoom rehearsals during the pandemic and regularly sings in our concerts. He also joined us on our concert tours in 2019 and 2023.
