Our Autumn concert features works by two of the most celebrated classical composers.
Josef Haydn (1732 - 1809) wrote the Harmoniemesse, the last of his major works, in 1802. Because of the instrumentation, it is also known as the Wind Band Mass.
Mozart (1756 - 1791), baptised Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, known universally as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composed the Vesperae solennes for liturgical use in Salzburg Cathedral.
Grace Wexler, soprano
Grace is a first-year student at the Royal Northern College of Music and is looking forward to the next four years, which will be spent developing her musical skills and pursuing a career as a professional singer. She is an alumnus of the National Youth Choir (15-18) and London Youth Chamber Choir. She also enjoys performing a wide range of music in solo recitals alongside exploring composition, arranging and music production in her free time.
Rachael Best-Babayeju, alto
Mezzo-soprano Rachael joined the Royal Academy of Music in September 2022 with a scholarship on the Undergraduate Vocal Studies course. She has toured to Neresheim with the Academy Chamber Choir and is currently singing in the opera chorus of the RAO's production of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. She is also part of the founding team of the African Caribbean Society. Outside of the Academy, Rachael is an avid choral singer and sings with many choirs. She has sung as part of the chorus in a semi-staged performance of La Traviata at the St Endellion Festival and is currently part 04 the 24-25 cohort of Genesis Sixteen working with Harry Christophers and Eamonn Dougan. She has just completed a choral scholarship with the Thames Philharmonic Choir (and is now a scholar at St Paul's Knightsbridge) and frequently sings with the London and National Youth Chamber Choirs.
Rachael's solo work includes the alto solos in Handel's Messiah with theThames Philharmonic Choir, the soprano solo in Bob Chilcott'sSt John Passion at St John the Divine and the role of Dido in a semi-staged performance of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.
Matthew Pinto, tenor
Matthew studied singing for four years with Anthea Dwyer at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department. At Junior Academy he performed in the Vocal Department’s annual opera scenes and won the annual Ann Lampard Singing Prize, Intermediate Category (2021) and Senior Category (2022). Matthew also studied conducting with Alexander Walker at Junior Academy. He has conducted performances of Saint-Saëns’ Le carnaval des animaux, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, and Sibelius’ Finlandia. Matthew is an undergraduate student at the Royal College of Music in London, studying singing with Russell Smythe. He is a full scholar, supported by the RCM Scholarship Fund. Taking an active interest in choral music, Matthew is also a member of the London Philharmonic Choir and Rodolfus Choir. This year he takes the post of Tenor Choral Scholar at All Saints’ Church, Fulham under Jonathan Wikeley.
Alex Yehorychev, baritone
Alex is a Ukrainian baritone born in Kyiv. He started his musical path as a singer at the age of 6 in the local music school. Winner of the First Prize of multiple international competitions in singing and choral conducting. In 2021 played a key role in a big "The Flight of Angel" concert where sang as a soloist and alongside his vocal teacher, still as a treble. In 2023 finished Kyiv State Music Lyceum as a singer and choral conductor. In 2022 due to the Russian invasion Alex left Ukraine and was accepted into Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, UK. Was a member of Chetham's Chamber Choir and Chorale. Alex was also involved in two Gabrieli Roar courses where he performed "The Dream of Gerontius" by Elgar and Verdi's Requiem. Currently he is continuing his musical studies at the Royal Northern College of Music.
