Sally Cathrine Johnson (Soprano)
The Alauna Ensemble

Brunswick Methodist Church
26th February, 2005, 7.30pm

Gustav Holst

Wind Quintet

Christopher Weeks

Il Gran Rifiuto

 

Paul Taffanel

Wind Quintet

 

 

Sally Cathrine Johnson

Sally Cathrine Johnson (Soprano)

Sally Johnson was born in 1977 and brought up in the Lake District. Early ambition to be a violinist was overtaken by her love of singing and she entered the RNCM in 1996 to study voice with Caroline Crawshaw.

As an undergraduate she was awarded the James Onken Song Prize, sang in the chorus of La Boheme, understudied in James Macmillian’s Busqueda and Janacek Jenufa and performed the role of first Bridesmaid in Le Nozze di Figaro. Involvement with the Yorke Trust productions in Norfolk led to oratorio opportunities and the role of Iris (Semele) and Minerva (The return of Ulysees).

In 2000, her final undergraduate year, she sang the role of Tatyana (Eugene Onegin) for Wilmslow Opera, a role she was to repeat in Autumn 2001 for Lakeland Opera.

Since graduating in 2000, Sally’s experience has broadened to include regular recital and oratorio engagements. Oratorio performances have included Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Creation, Bach’s St Matthew Passion and St. John Passion, Carl Orff’s Camina Burana and Verdi’s Requiem (York Minster 2004). Sally gives regular recitals throughout the north of England, a particular favourite was with Martin Roscoe for the Ribble Valley International Piano week in 2002. Her keen interest in contemporary music has led to opportunities to premiere new chamber works, and opera galas are a regular source of experience. Sally will be premiering a song cycle written by Chris Weeks in February 2005. Sally has sung in masterclasses with Phillip Langridge, Ryland Davies and Jane Eaglen.

In 2002 she was a finalist in the Frederic Cox Competition at the RNCM and sang the role of Liza in the College production of Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades. Sally has also performed the premier of the contemporary song cycle Broken Heart of Autumn by Christopher Beardsley with the Opera North Orchestra at the Spring Festival of New Music in York.

Sally’s latest roles were Donna Elvira in the RNCM’s production of Don Giovanni and Musetta from La Boheme for Scottish Opera.

Sally has recently won the prestigious Elizabeth Harwood Award, which is designed to aid a student leaving the RNCM in the first steps of their career.

She has sung with Glyndebourne Festival Chorus and has performed in Britten’s War Requiem at Snape Maltings in Alderburgh. She had her debut with the Hallé last summer in Verdi’s Te Deum.

Sally is a scholar of the Peter Moores Foundation supporting her continuing studies and for which she is most grateful. Sally married last year and is expecting her first child in May.

 

The  Alauna Ensemble

Graham Mayger (flute/piccolo) won a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music, then a French Government Scholarship to study in Paris with Jean Pierre Rampal. Returning to London, he then played with most of the major London orchestras, and for 27 years enjoyed a special relationship with the Northern Sinfonia. He now holds principal flute positions with many freelance orchestras and is a member of the London Harpsichord Ensemble.
He has broadcast as a soloist in many recitals and concertos, including a concerto performance at the Promenade concerts. His recordings for Unicorn of Vivaldi chamber concertos, including the ‘Goldfinch’ have been very highly praised.
He was appointed to the staff of the Royal College of Music at the age of 24; becoming the youngest professor ever to be appointed. Several of his past students now hold important orchestral positions in this country and abroad. He is also professor of the flute at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.

Gwenllian Davies (oboe/cor anglais) was born in Pembrokeshire 1974. Her graduate studies took place at Jesus College, Oxford University, BA Hons Music, 1st Class (1993 - 1996). Her postgraduate studies were completed at the Royal Academy of Music, Advanced Postgraduate Diploma and LRAM (1996 - 1997) and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Postgraduate Diploma of Orchestral Training and LGSMD (1997 - 1998).

She is a member of the Aurora Wind Ensemble and has performed at many major British venues, including Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, St David's Hall, Cardiff, Purcell Room, Cheltenham International Festival, St Martin's in the Field and the National Gallery.

John Lewis (clarinet/bass clarinet)  

Simon Stewart (saxophone) studied saxophone and clarinet at the Royal College of Music, London and was awarded an Exhibitioners Scholarship to study saxophone with Steve Trier and Kyle Horch and clarinet with Colin Bradbury.

In 1993 whilst still at college, Simon formed the saxophone quartet, Saxploitation (now Paragon Saxophone Quartet). The quartet rapidly attracted critical acclaim for their virtuoso performances and ‘effortless resources of sound’ (Paul Driver, Sunday Times).

As a freelance performer Simon has worked with Lady Suzanna Walton performing William Walton’s Façade throughout Britain and Europe, with various contemporary music ensembles touring extensively, London Musici and Rambert Dance Company, The National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and Bournemouth Symphony orchestra.

As a teacher Simon enjoys a busy schedule teaching at the Purcell School and Highgate School where he teaches saxophone and coaches the Big Band and saxophone ensembles.

Peter Morgan (bassoon) studied with Roger Birnstingl and Martin Gatt at the Guildhall School of Music and with Mordechai Rechtmann in Tel Aviv. Peter has worked with many of the country's leading orchestras and ensembles and for twelve years, until 1996, was principal bassoon with the Orchestra of English National Ballet.

Martin Pring (conductor) has had twenty years experience in the music profession as a violinist, conductor and composer.
He began conducting whilst studying for his M.Mus at Surrey University in 1980. In the same year he was appointed Principal Conductor of the Varese Ensemble. In this capacity he performed many contemporary works and twentieth century classics and over twenty first performances of works by young British composers.
In 1985 he made his debut with Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet conducting Petrushka and was appointed conductor of London City Ballet. In 1986 he became music director of Dance Advance for which he composed and arranged several ballet scores and toured widely throughout the UK, Germany, Spain and China.
For the last five years Martin has enjoyed a close relationship with the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales conducting contemporary Welsh works for S4C's The Composers and giving a wide range of concerts including opera and ballet galas and open-air firework spectaculars, working with many fine soloists including Sian Cothi, Ros Evans, Alan Opie and Jason Howard.
Mark Kane (horn) studied at the Royal College of Music with Tim Brown and Julian Baker. He follows a busy career as a freelance musician with many orchestras and ensembles, including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Mark takes a keen interest in chamber music and also composes.
Bob Ferriman (trumpet)
Siân Williams (harp)
Albert Dennis (double bass)

 

Top of Page

[Home]