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

Musical Beginnings at Oldham Music Centre/ “singing along” to Katie Melua on car trips as a baby with Grandpa!

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

I grew up in Saddleworth in a small village called Diggle outside Oldham. Accessed classical music through playing violin in orchestras and singing with choirs at the Oldham Music Centre. Had a wonderful music teacher at school called Mr Hulme, who had the school choir singing oratorios every Autumn and a festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Anne’s Manchester every Christmas. Then joined the Halle Youth Choir under the vivacious Stuart Overington!

What has been your most memorable performance so far?

Probably singing Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius at York Minster with the Halle and Mark Elder

What would your dream performance be?

Travel back to 1989 and squeeze into the choir that performed Beethoven’s 9th under Bernstein to mark the falling of the Berlin Wall, I think that was a pretty special performance! But to sing in the Sistine Chapel with Harry Christophers wouldn’t be too bad either!

What are you looking forward to with Genesis Sixteen?

Collaborating with other ambitious, talented singers to make music and hopefully making some great friends along the way.

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

TV, lots of TV and films! Anything with Robert De Niro or Meryl Streep in. I enjoy swimming and occasionally playing tennis, prefer to watch tennis really, although not as much now Federer’s retired!

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

I’m currently studying at Durham University, just about to go into third year chemistry. There, I sing with the fabulous Durham University Chamber Choir.

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

Making a CD over Summer with the St John’s Chapel Choir at Durham and going on tour to Seville with the Chamber Choir.