Les Sirènes Female Chamber Choir
Encyclopedia
The Les Sirènes Female Chamber Choir is a Glasgow
-based chamber choir
, consisting of singers from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
. Established in 2007 by present Musical Director Andrew Nunn, the choir perform regularly in Glasgow and further afield, having given concerts at venues such as the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
, the SECC
and London's Cadogan Hall
. The choir has also done well competitively, having been named Adult Choir of the Day in the area selection stage of the BBC
Choir of the Year competition in May 2010 and reaching the semi-finals of the BBC's Last Choir Standing
in 2008.
Les Sirènes are often called upon to collaborate with other artists. For example, in October 2009 the choir performed with female vocal harmony group All Angels
as part of the Paisley
Choral Festival, and in December of the same year some members sang with the orchestra of Scottish Opera
as part of the Children's Classics concerts in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Les Sirènes are one of the few female chamber choirs in the country.
Pianist - Rosanna Young
Harpist - Charlotte Sager
Andrew was lucky enough to perform in the televised grand final of the BBC Choir of the Year competition in 2006, and it was with this group that Andrew realised his passion for choral music and desire to become a professional musician. Andrew has conducted the RSAMD Chamber Choir on a recording of new work Scotland Behold and was recently appointed Musical Director of the Bridge of Weir Choral Society and the Kirkintilloch Ladies Choir. He has also been made a director on the board of the Paisley Choral Festival. Andrew is currently continuing his studies at the Academy on the Master of Music course, with singing again as a second study under the tutelage of Gordon Wilson.
"Excellent conducting... An incredibly beautiful and musical performance... Oozing with sophisticated musicality." Stuart Barr, BBC Choir of the Year 2010
"Between the whopping operas or new music festivals, there’s the sheer enjoyment of hearing a group of girls, clad in little black dresses and chic purple scarves, singing their hearts out...with Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine sung in such a sensuous manner any right-thinking male listener would have turned to jelly." Iona Bain, The Herald
June 2010.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
-based chamber choir
Chamber choir
A chamber choir or group of chamber singers is the choral equivalent of a chamber ensemble, using voices instead of instruments. This prestigious choir will usually consist of 20-40 elite and dedicated singers. Several chamber choir formats exist, ranging from barbershop groups to exclusively...
, consisting of singers from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
. Established in 2007 by present Musical Director Andrew Nunn, the choir perform regularly in Glasgow and further afield, having given concerts at venues such as the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall is an arts venue, in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is operated by Glasgow Life, an agency of Glasgow City Council, which also runs Glasgow’s City Halls and Old Fruitmarket venue...
, the SECC
Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre
The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre , located on the north bank of the River Clyde, in Glasgow, is Scotland's largest exhibition centre....
and London's Cadogan Hall
Cadogan Hall
Cadogan Hall is a 900-seat capacity concert hall on Sloane Terrace in Chelsea / Belgravia in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, United Kingdom...
. The choir has also done well competitively, having been named Adult Choir of the Day in the area selection stage of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Choir of the Year competition in May 2010 and reaching the semi-finals of the BBC's Last Choir Standing
Last Choir Standing
Last Choir Standing was a 2008 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom. Broadcast on BBC One in July and August 2008, the series saw amateur choirs competing each week to be the 'last choir standing'....
in 2008.
Les Sirènes are often called upon to collaborate with other artists. For example, in October 2009 the choir performed with female vocal harmony group All Angels
All Angels
All Angels are a British classical crossover group formed in 2006, consisting of Daisy Chute, Rachel Fabri, Melanie Nakhla andCharlotte Ritchie....
as part of the Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
Choral Festival, and in December of the same year some members sang with the orchestra of Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera is the national opera company of Scotland, and one of the five national performing arts companies funded by the Scottish Government...
as part of the Children's Classics concerts in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Les Sirènes are one of the few female chamber choirs in the country.
Members
| 1st Soprano | 2nd Soprano | 1st Mezzo Soprano | 2nd Mezzo Soprano |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catrin Pryce-Jones | Aileen Saunders | Carolyn Kelly | Kirsty Young |
| Darcy DaSilva | Lucy Anderson | Louisa Cheshire | Laura Margaret Smith |
| Gemma Summerfield | Rachael Brimley | Lynn Bellamy | Lauren Young |
| Natasha Hendrickse-Welsh | Victoria Atkinson | Penelope Cousland | |
| Rebecca Hooper |
Pianist - Rosanna Young
Harpist - Charlotte Sager
Musical Director
The choir's founder, Andrew Nunn, graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in July 2010 with a BMus(Hons) in Oboe and Cor Anglais, however he has always had a deep interest in singing. As a member of the Tees Valley Youth ChoirTees Valley Youth Choir
Tees Valley Youth Choir is a choir made up of 13- to 19-year-olds from the boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Darlington, and Redcar & Cleveland. It also draws some members from further afield, particularly North Yorkshire and surrounding areas.The choir was established in...
Andrew was lucky enough to perform in the televised grand final of the BBC Choir of the Year competition in 2006, and it was with this group that Andrew realised his passion for choral music and desire to become a professional musician. Andrew has conducted the RSAMD Chamber Choir on a recording of new work Scotland Behold and was recently appointed Musical Director of the Bridge of Weir Choral Society and the Kirkintilloch Ladies Choir. He has also been made a director on the board of the Paisley Choral Festival. Andrew is currently continuing his studies at the Academy on the Master of Music course, with singing again as a second study under the tutelage of Gordon Wilson.
Critical Reception
"A fantastic sound... There are some very fine voices in this choir." Susan Hollingworth, BBC Choir of the Year 2010"Excellent conducting... An incredibly beautiful and musical performance... Oozing with sophisticated musicality." Stuart Barr, BBC Choir of the Year 2010
"Between the whopping operas or new music festivals, there’s the sheer enjoyment of hearing a group of girls, clad in little black dresses and chic purple scarves, singing their hearts out...with Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine sung in such a sensuous manner any right-thinking male listener would have turned to jelly." Iona Bain, The Herald
The Herald (Glasgow)
The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, and available throughout Scotland. As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 47,226, giving it a lead over Scotland's other 'quality' national daily, The Scotsman, published in Edinburgh.The 1889 to 1906 editions...
June 2010.