When and where was your first experience of music / singing?

I grew up in Leicester and was forced to join the Cathedral choir at the grand old age of 5. I was lucky enough that Leicester allows broken voices to continue singing in the choir, and so I sang a year as an alto, a week of tenor, and a lifetime of bass. Richard III being found in a carpark was a huge moment for the Cathedral choir as suddenly we were being broadcast to the nation, which really inspired me to keep singing and improving.

Where did you grow up? Did you have access to classical music?

I grew up in Leicester which is proudly one of the most diverse cities in the country. My mum was determined to make sure I had access and exposure to the arts despite raising me on one income. I began playing trombone in Year 4 and was part of the Leicestershire Arts Symphony Orchestra and Big Band all throughout secondary school which massively increased my exposure to classical music. I have been incredibly fortunate to have benefited from several bursary schemes which have allowed me to participate in ensembles such as National Youth Choir and the National Schools Symphony Orchestra.

What has been your most memorable performance so far?

Last year I performed with National Youth Voices as part of the Orchestral Quawwali Project at the Royal Albert Hall. It was an amazing concert combining Indian classical music with Western orchestral and choral traditional ensembles. It was some of the most amazing music I have ever performed, and my mind was absolutely blown by the tabla player. I have always loved Indian classical music, and to bring this music to a venue as historic as the Royal Albert Hall was immense.

What would your dream performance be?

Wow great question. I’m an absolute sucker for English song, like Finzi and Vaughan-Williams, so if it was a solo performance then definitely either Songs of Travel or Let us Garlands Bring, with full orchestra of course. My dream choral concert would definitely be a programme of french impressionist composers like Debussy, Duruflé, and Poulenc.

What are you looking forward to with Genesis Sixteen?

I am particularly looking forward to meeting, and being inspired by, the other young musicians on the scheme. I can’t wait for that first rehearsal and hearing the incredible mix and blend of voices. It is of course an honour to be able to perform under the baton of Harry Christophers and the other inspiring staff leading the Genesis Sixteen programme, there are so many amazing things to learn from this programme.

Outside of singing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

I also play trombone, both jazz and classical which is something that brings me great joy. I’ve often been told I have a trombone playing face which I’m not sure is a compliment. As well as this I am a lover of parkrun, and am currently training towards running half-marathons more than once in a blue moon.

Are you still in education? Are you in any other young artists schemes?

I graduated [in 2024], and have just spent the year as a choral scholar at Lincoln Cathedral. It was a really interesting and fulfilling year being funded to eat, sleep, and breath choral music for a whole year as well as get lots of experience working with children and as an educator. This year I’m working in London alongside a more relaxed choral scholarship while looking to dep around the London music scene.

Outside of performances with Genesis Sixteen, have you got any concerts coming up?

Upcoming for me is a performance with National Youth Voices at the BBC Proms. It was amazing to take part in the Proms with National Youth Choir last year performing Beethoven’s 9th symphony and I can’t wait to do it again this year.

Also upcoming is the launch concert for the ANON ensemble in Lincoln Cathedral. ANON is an ensemble dedicated to only performing music by composers with an unknown identity, and it has been a pleasure working with this group on music that hasn’t been performed in centuries and whose author has been lost to time.