Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Genesis Sixteen appoints new Conducting Scholar Sarah Latto
The Sixteen are delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Latto as Genesis Sixteen Conducting Scholar for 2015-16. Sarah is a young, vibrant choral director, who is enjoying a blossoming career as a conductor and vocal coach. She will join Genesis Sixteen as the first course for the new intake gets underway, from 24 to 30 August 2015 at Magdalen College, Oxford.
Sarah follows Robbie Jacobs, the first ever Conducting Scholar, who says about his time on the scheme:
“Genesis Sixteen’s conducting scholarship has been a fantastic springboard for my career. The opportunity to learn from the expertise of Harry Christophers and Eamonn Dougan is invaluable, as is the chance to work with such a talented group of young singers. I have been challenged throughout the scheme to rethink my gestural and interpretative approaches, and often forced outside my comfort zone, a process which has helped me to develop hugely over the year. I would strongly urge any ambitious young conductor to apply.”
“I am so pleased that, thanks to ongoing support from the Genesis Foundation, we can continue to expand the Genesis Sixteen programme by nurturing not only the next generation of singers but also choral conductors. The conducting scholarship is a truly unique opportunity not only to work alongside myself and associate conductor Eamonn Dougan, but also to direct a group of young singers training to become top level professionals. I am very pleased to welcome Sarah to the scheme and look forward to working with her over the coming year.”
– Harry Christophers
“Without question, Genesis Sixteen is one of the great success stories of the UK musical scene. Over a hundred young singers have had the good fortune to be mentored and taught by Harry and Eamonn and we can see how transformative that experience has been by watching their successes when leaving the course. I am thrilled the Genesis Foundation has added conducting to its burgeoning list of areas within the arts where the mentoring and nurturing of young artistic talent is able to flourish within a focused programme. I have no doubt that Sarah Latto will be as inspired and challenged as everyone else who has been a part of Genesis Sixteen and we will be watching her progress with great interest.”
– John Studzinski
Genesis Sixteen is in its fifth year and has now welcomed its 100th participant. This summer they were the highlight of the Sounds Sublime festival – celebrating young choral talent – in central London. They also performed live on BBC Radio 3 In Tune and gave concerts at St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court.
This Autumn they will travel to James MacMillan’s Cumnock Tryst festival in East Ayrshire, where on 3 October they will join forces with the festival chorus to give the world premiere of When you see the millions of the mouthless dead under the direction of Eamonn Dougan.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Genesis Sixteen is The Sixteen’s free young artists’ scheme which aims to nurture the next generation of talented ensemble singers. During the course of a year, a series of week-long and weekend courses are led by key figures from The Sixteen, including founder and conductor Harry Christophers and associate conductor Eamonn Dougan.
Participants receive group tuition, individual mentoring and masterclasses run by some of the industry’s top vocal experts. Thanks to a close partnership with the Genesis Foundation participants not only receive free tuition but also a bursary to cover all additional costs. This is the UK’s first ever fully funded programme of its kind and alumni from the first four years have already had much success since graduating. Many are now performing, recording and touring with professional groups, including The Sixteen. A number of them have set up their own choirs and are showing true entrepreneurialism in developing their brand and reputation on the music circuit.
After 35 years of worldwide performance and recording, The Sixteen is recognised as one of the world’s greatest ensembles. Comprising both choir and period-instrument orchestra, The Sixteen’s total commitment to the music it performs is its greatest distinction. A special reputation for performing early English polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance, bringing fresh insights into Baroque and early Classical music and a diversity of 20th and 21st-century music, is drawn from the passions of its conductor and founder Harry Christophers CBE.
The Genesis Foundation, established by John Studzinski in 2001, plays an active role in nurturing and developing the careers of outstanding young artists in the fields of music, theatre and the visual arts.
Based in London, the Foundation works in partnership with the leaders of prestigious, progressive arts organisations such as the Royal Court, The Sixteen, Welsh National Opera and the Young Vic, funding programmes that support young directors, playwrights and musicians in the early stages of their professional lives. In addition, the Foundation awards scholarships to outstanding students at LAMDA and commissions new works that have ranged from choral compositions to an online art game.
In July 2015 the Genesis Foundation announced its funding of a new programme at New York’s Signature Theatre: Residency Five will guarantee nine playwrights three new productions over the course of a five-year residency.