News from The De Costa Academy
June 2018 // York Minster Choristers
Seven-year-old Hattie Talbot (pictured) has been a pupil for approx. 12 months and has been invited to become a Probationer Chorister in York Minster from September.
Sophie Gibson, another Academy pupil, is just completing her time in the choir, latterly as a Senior Chorister, and will be continuing her singing in Pocklington School next term.
Congratulations girls!
June 2018 // Graham Beevers, baritone
Graham Beevers, baritone, travels from Lancashire each week for his lessons in the Academy. A regular on the Gilbert and Sullivan stage across the North West, he has just been cast as King Paramount in a rare production of Utopia, Limited. Staveley Amateur Operatic Society are performing one of Gilbert and Sullivan's last operettas from 19–22 September.
Prior to that, Graham's next musical exploits will be on stage in Preston Opera's production of Bellini's Norma on 7–9 June.
Toi, Toi, Toi, Graham.
May 2018 // Izzie Mills
The Academy is delighted to announce that pupil Izzie Mills has been appointed Head Chorister at Queen Margaret's School, Escrick. In addition, as a bassoonist, she has been invited with other talented young musicians to join the York Guildhall Orchestra at a rehearsal for their forthcoming performance of Symphonie Fantastique and Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto.
A pupil for the past 10 years, it is a pleasure to see Izzie developing into a fine young musician.
May 2018 // Fiddler on the Roof
Lee Patterson will be playing the role of Avram in Fiddler on the Roof for The Bev Jones Theatre Company. The production is from 23–26 May 2018 at The Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York.Tickets are available from the Theatre Box Office.
May 2018 // York Opera: Tales of Love and Passion
Our friends at York Opera are performing Tales of Love and Passion in the National Centre for Early Music on 16 and 17 May 2018. The evening consists of staged extracts from Cavelleria Rusticana, Hugh the Drover, Eugene Onegin and La bohème, sung in English.
The Academy is particularly pleased that Gareth Rees will be taking the baritone role of Schaunard in Act II of La bohème. Also in the cast are Academy pupils Chloe Crowder, Gill Tiplady, Thea Jacob.
Tickets are available from the NCEM box office.
May 2018 // James Gaughan: Israel in Egypt
Baritone James Gaughan will be one of the soloists in Handel's oratorio Israel in Egypt next month. The performances, with St Hilda's Festival Chorus and Scarborough Choral Society, will take place on 2 June at St Hilda's Church, Whitby, and on 9 June at Queen Street Methodist Hall, Scarborough.
James is also giving the next in his series of solo song recitals at Wakefield Cathedral on 26 June at 1pm.
April 2018 // York Casting News
Congratulations go to Stephen Jobson who will be playing Will Parker in an upcoming production of Oklahoma with The Bev Jones Theatre Company.
Jorvik Gilbert and Sullivan Company have also cast Princess Ida. The Academy is delighted that Nick Sephton and James Hirst are the brothers Arac and Guron.
Congratulations all!
March 2018 // Graham Beevers, The Sorcerer
Hornby Occasionals in Lancashire are presenting The Sorcerer from 18–21 April. Academy pupil Graham Beevers is making his role debut as Dr Daly in this Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.
March 2018 // Messiah at Howden Minster
A splendid evening was had at Howden Minster on 17 March, despite the snow, when Academy principals Valerie Parker, Ben Pieper and James Gaughan, alongside Clare Rachel Greener, led a performance of Handel's Messiah. Matthew Collins was accompanying on the organ, and they were joined by the Howden Community Chorus.
The Academy has a further opportunity to sing in Howden when the Minster closes its Summer Concert Series with an Opera Gala on Sat 6 Oct 2018.
February 2018 // The Producers
The Joseph Rowntree Theatre, at the heart of the perfoming community in York, are forming an in–house Theatre Company. Joining the ensemble for the debut production, The Producers, directed by Kayleigh Oliver, are James Hirst and Alastair Bush.
Performances are on 8–10 February and tickets are on sale now.
