Our Choral Scholarship programme began in 2017 instigated by an idea by Judith McEwan who sang with the choir for 30 years and was our Secretary until February 2018. She was passionate about encouraging people from all backgrounds to sing.
Since the inception of the scheme we have benefited greatly from our Choral Scholars' participation and maintained active relationships with them on their journeys into the choral music world.
Rebecca Sullivan, soprano, Choral Scholar 2024/25
Harim Oh, soprano, Choral Scholar 2023/24.
Harim is a British Soprano with Korean heritage. She studied both violin and singing at the Purcell School. She read music at the University of Bristol and has a Masters of Vocal Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) studying with Kathleen Mckellar Ferguson.
Harry Heaven, tenor, Choral Scholar 2023/24.
Harry is a BMus Vocal Performance graduate from Chichester Conservatoire and passionate about teaching, performing, and about making music with others. Harry runs two choirs; Greenshaw High School’s Choir and Sutton Community Choir.
Harry's previous roles include Valintin in Faust (NSO), Andy in 42nd Street (ESPA), Acis and Da
Harim Oh, soprano, Choral Scholar 2023/24.
Harim is a British Soprano with Korean heritage. She studied both violin and singing at the Purcell School. She read music at the University of Bristol and has a Masters of Vocal Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) studying with Kathleen Mckellar Ferguson.
Harim Oh (soprano) and Gisele Bustamente (mezzosoprano), Choral Scholars 2021/22.
Harim is a British Soprano with Korean heritage. She studied both violin and singing at the Purcell School. She read music at the University of Bristol and has a Masters of Vocal Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) studying with Kathleen Mckellar Ferguson.
Operatic performances include at RCS, ‘Sophie’ (Der Rosenkavalier), ‘Clorinda’ (Cenerentola), ‘Marzelline’ (Fidelio), ‘Susanna’ (Marriage of Figaro), the chorus of Prokofiev’s Fiery Angel with the Scottish Opera, with WNO Youth Opera ‘Wu’ (Peter Maxwell-Davies, Kommilitonen).
As a soloist Harim has sung with Scottish Voices, Bach’s St John Passion with the Glasgow Barons and Scottish Chamber Choir, Handel’s Messiah with Opera Dei Lumi, Bach’s Magnificat at the RCS and with RCS Voices has performed the Beethoven 9, Bartok’s Miraculous Mandarin and Langaard’s Music of the Spheres in collaboration with the 'BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
As Choral Scholars, Harim and Gisele supported the choir in rehearsals and performed solo pieces in the St Cecilia Centenary Celebration concert on 11 June 2022.
Emily Christian, soprano, Choral Scholar 2020/21.
Emily 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, Choral Scholar 2019/20.
Vicki 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.
Francesca Pringle, soprano, Choral Scholar 2018/19.
Francesca studied for a Masters in music at the Royal Academy of Music geaduating in 2024. 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.
