4 July – Three Sopranos – all about them!

Karen Speight (Mezzo-soprano)

Karen can be found singing to herself at 37,000 feet, at her day job as a Captain for the ‘World’s Favourite Airline’. Initiating her journey with Oxford University’s G&S Society, she graduated to the local amateur operatic scene, singing with Savoy Singers, WEO, Mostly G&S, Woodley Light Operatic Society, in the Gilbert & Sullivan Festival with Peak Opera, also performing solo with Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra. She has played almost as many men as she has women with  frequent requests to play “trouser roles”. Karen studies singing with Diana Vivian.

Jo has been singing almost as long as she has been talking! Having loved music from a very early age she has continued to pursue this throughout her career. Her day job is inspiring children to explore music through singing. As a performer she has appeared with The Savoy Singers and HLO Musical Company. As a choral singer, she has sung for HM The King, as well as being a chorister with the chapel choir at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. She recently sang Carmen with Maidenhead Operatic Society.

Helen is a versatile soprano with a large range of performing experience. Helen studied at Morley Opera School and with Diana Vivian. She was nominated twice for Best Female Singer in the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. She was a soloist at both the Aldershot and Basingstoke Proms and recently for Fleet Choral Society's Brahms Requiem. She sang the role of Despina in Mozart's Così fan tutte in an exclusive production at The Athenaeum, Pall Mall. She appeared as the title role in Patience for Forbear! Theatre’s UK tour and reprised the role for Fleet Parish Opera last September.

Simon studied music at Royal Holloway, University of London, majoring in both saxophone and piano. Since graduating, he works as an accompanist and repetiteur in and around London and Berkshire, as well as for a number of musical theatre societies. Normally found under the stage in the pit as a musical director, he is delighted to be able to share the stage for once, especially with such talented singers.

David has been hiding in the chorus, singing opera with a number of local groups for years and has recently taken the plunge into some solo roles - Lawrence in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Luiz in Gondoliers and a priest in Magic Flute. He is not afraid of a top A or two himself, but at the Three Sopranos concert he is looking forward to introducing our three lovely divas.