Voice masterclasses and recital on Saturday 30^th November. This Saturday singers at SCYM will be involved in masterclasses and rehearsals with tenor Jack Dolan and mezzo – soprano Eleanor Oldfield. Jack and Eleanor will perform in a free lunchtime recital in Saffron Hall at 12.15. All are welcome!

Jack Dolan- Tenor

 Lyric tenor, Jack Dolan, was born and raised in Manchester. He is based in London where he studies as a master’s student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Sarah Pring and Adrian Thompson. Previously, he studied under Maureen Brathwaite at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where he graduated with First Class honours in 2019. Jack’s musical roots lie in rock and blues and he studied as a guitarist for six years whilst developing a love for Classical music. His eclectic taste in music led to the discovery of musical theatre and sparked a fascination with vocal music and research into all different types of singing. He was finally persuaded by Claire Surman to change his path to study at Conservatoire and train as a tenor. In May 2019, he was awarded first place in the annual Mario Lanza Society Opera Prize at the RBC and also a Development Award in the inaugural By Voice Alone competition.

Jack works as a freelance singer and enjoys a busy performance He has appeared in staged operatic productions as chorus in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilegès (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham) and in the National G&S Opera Company tour in 2018 and 2019. At the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, he performed as Raoul de Gardefeu in Offenbach’s La Vie Parisienne, Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Henry Crawford in Dove’s Mansfield Park. Other operatic engagements include Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (Strada Stretta Opera, Malta), Frederic and The Defendant in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates and Penzance and Trial by Jury, respectively (Rugby Philharmonic Choir). As well as operatic performances, Jack frequently performs oratorio with a network of companies and choral societies around the UK and has performed as a soloist Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.

Jack’s postgraduate studies are generously supported by Margaret Hamilton.

Eleanor Oldfield- Mezzo Soprano

Eleanor is a Mezzo Soprano currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, under the tutelage of Marcus van den Akker and Samantha Malk.

Before starting Guildhall, Eleanor gained a place in the renowned Genesis Sixteen ensemble (2016-17) conducted by Harry Christophers CBE. Since finishing the scheme, she has performed with the Genesis Sixteen Alumni Choir on multiple occasions including recordings for Classic FM and BBC Radio 3.

Whilst attending Guildhall, Eleanor has been lucky enough to work under the guidance of Sarah Walker CBE and Dame Emma Kirkby DBE. Earlier this year she performed the role of Contessa in a Guildhall production of Mozart’s opera Le Nozze di Figaro. During the summer she was the soloist in a Last Night of the Proms concert series with the Kavolini Orchestra as well as singing in Prom 37: Berlioz’ L’enface du Christ with the Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Maxime Pascal.

She has been privileged enough to sing in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Hall, St Johns Smith Square and Basilique Cathédrale de Saint- Denis in Paris.

Future engagements include performances of Gabriel, with world-renowned trumpeter Alison Balsom at Saffron Hall and the Barbican with the English Concert, directed by Dominic Dromgoole; and a performance of Berlioz’ Romeo and Juliet with the London Symphony Orchestra also at the Barbican.