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.
Contents |
| 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
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 Choir 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.
"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 June 2010.[1]