We are very pleased to welcome Ryan Hepburn to Platinum as our resident organist and pianist for this year (and beyond)! Read a little bit about Ryan below – he will be joining us at our first workshop of 2018, Bach's Jesu, meine Freude.

Ryan Hepburn read Music at Cambridge University, where he was Organ Scholar of Robinson College. He studied organ with David Sanger, and subsequently with Dame Gillian Weir and Thomas Trotter, and piano accompaniment with Michael Dussek (Royal Academy of Music). For the past 10 years, Ryan has worked as a freelance keyboardist and conductor, with artists such as Kathryn Jenkins, Steve Reich, Sir Tim Rice, and for the Royal Family, and has recorded for Classic FM and the BBC. Active as a church musician, recitalist, and accompanist, recent engagements have included recitals and conducting work at St Martin-in-the-Fields, workshop, rehearsal and audition engagements as a pianist, and musical theatre work. Forthcoming engagements include a pre-Mass recital of French organ music at Westminster Cathedral, and a small series of recitals (with James Gough) at Arundel Cathedral, exploring and performing the complete works of Jehan Alain. Ryan holds a prize-nominated PhD from Newcastle University (for a thesis on recent works by the American minimalist composer Steve Reich), and diplomas in performance from the Royal College of Organists and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Ryan lives in Brighton with his fiancée Hannah Ashenden (a professional cellist), and from where he pursues an active freelance career and works as Head of Keyboard and Percussion at Brighton College. Ryan is delighted to work regularly with the Platinum Consort and Scott Inglis-Kidger in their explorations of outstanding choral repertoire from across the ages, and thoroughly enjoys assisting others who are equally committed to bringing great works to wider audiences. ​

(VACANCY NOW FILLED)
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PLATINUM CONSORT & CHORAL WORKSHOPS, one of the UK’s leading professional choirs and choral education organisations, is seeking a self-employed administrator to assist with the organisation of its choral workshops and to provide administrative support to the Founder & Director. 

Platinum Consort was founded at Cambridge University by Scott Inglis-Kidger and Claire Jaggers in 2005 and, in addition to giving concerts and recording albums, has offered bespoke choral workshops for good amateur singers since 2011. The workshops are incredibly popular, with long waiting lists forming hours after launching. 

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE: 
- Will provide in the region of 3 hours administrative support per week (there may be more hours dependant on current projects). The work includes, but is not limited to, managing workshop bookings, scheduling workshops, communicating with clients, booking venues, organising and ordering printing, managing the mailing list and, for the right candidate, updating the website and social media accounts. 

- Will work from home, but will sometimes be asked to attend workshops (by prior agreement) in London. 

- Will attend regular, scheduled meetings with the Founder & Director. 

- Will liaise with both the Founder & Director and the Chairman of Platinum Choral Foundation. 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: 
- Attention to detail 
- Computer literacy (including excel) 
- Excellent email communication skills 
- Ability to work under pressure 

DESIRABLE SKILLS: 
- Experience in updating websites and social media 
- An interest in the Classical music industry and/or choral singing 

The role will be paid on presentation of a monthly invoice, at a rate of £12 per hour. Hours will be agreed with the Founder & Director in advance of the week commencing. 

STARTING DATE: November 2016 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Midday on Thursday 3rd November 2016. 

HOW TO APPLY: 
Please send a CV and covering letter to Scott Inglis-Kidger, Founder & Director, on email: office@platinumconsort.com
To see what we do, please visit our YouTube channel here: Platinum Consort YouTube or see the videos below.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Fear No Evil concert, the third in our 2014 Sloane Square Series. One audience member commented, "That was the best performance of 'Sleep' I've ever heard. Gave me goose bumps on my goose bumps!" Massive thanks to our amazing army of helpers, guest artist Calum Huggan, and our inspirational Composer in Residence, Richard Bates. Most importantly, thank YOU for supporting us! 

Hailed by Classic FM as a “rising star of the choral world", Scott Inglis-Kidger is known for his passion and dedication as a conductor and vocal coach. Born in 1984, Scott was brought up playing the Scottish bagpipes at home on a farm in the North East of England. He later discovered singing, going on to read Music at the University of Cambridge and join the world famous King's College Choir as a countertenor. His love of exquisite vocal music was the motivation behind the formation of Platinum Consort during his final year at Cambridge.

Scott is equally at home directing large orchestral and choral forces as he is in the intimate setting of consort music. Highlights of his nine sell-out concerts as conductor of Thomas’s Choral Society include Handel's Messiah with the Saraband Consort, Rutter’s Requiem with Lakeswood Sinfonia, and the world première of Richard Bates' large-scale commission, The Vigil, with Platinum Boys' Choir.

As a former Director of Music in two London prep schools, Scott continues to inspire and encourage many young singers. His skill in transforming choirs and singers of any age and ability is outstanding, whether it be with seasoned professionals, choral amateurs, or the thousands of viewers of his YouTube channel, Sing with Scott. One singer described his participation in a session with Scott as “the most amazing musical experience of my life!". With bespoke workshops sold out months in advance and performances described as “pristine” and “intimate” (BBC Music Magazine), Scott is making a significant impact on the world of choral music.


Scott's Website - www.scottinglis-kidger.com
Scott on Twitter

Rosemary began her musical training as a violinist, before taking up place as choral scholar at Clare College, Cambridge. After graduating with a degree in mathematics, Rosemary studied for a Masters in Music at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, specialising in Historical Performance, and was made an Artist Fellow for 2011-12. Rosemary currently learns privately with Mhairi Lawson and Leandros Taliotis. Recent solo appearances include Pergolesi Stabat Mater, First Woman in Handel's Solomon, Haydn's Creation and Nelson Mass, Filia in Carissimi’s Jepthe, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Vivaldi’s Gloria. Operatic roles include Ilia Idomeneo, Foreign Woman in Menotti’s The Consul, Anne in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Daphne in Peri’s Euridice, and Dido Dido and Aeneas. 

Rosemary is the soprano soloist with early music ensemble Poeticall Musicke, with whom she performs a wide range of repertoire from Caccini to Bach. She recently made her Platinum Consort debut.

Rosemary's Website - http://www.rosemarygalton.co.uk/
Rosemary on Twitter

British soprano Molly Alexander is a freelance solo and ensemble singer. During her time at the University of Bristol she was awarded the Duigan Fund Performance Prize, and was a member of the inaugural year of The Sixteen’s apprenticeship programme, Genesis Sixteen. Molly has performed throughout the country as a soloist in roles across oratorio and Early Music, including Fauré Requiem; Vivaldi Gloria; Mozart Exultate Jubilate; Bach St John Passion; Bach BWV 146 ‘Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal’, and a recital of Handel, Bach and Fasch with Ars Eloquentiae for the 2013 Clifton International Festival. As part of an ongoing relationship with Spitalfields Music, Molly appeared as soloist in both their 2012 and 2013 Winter Festivals alongside members of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment for projects based around Purcell and Monteverdi. Molly also works with some of the UK’s leading vocal ensembles such as The Sixteen, Stile Antico, Tenebrae, Ex Cathedra, The New London Consort, Alamire, and The Eric Whitacre Singers. Molly recently made her Platinum Consort debut.

Molly's Website - http://mollyalexandersoprano.com/
Molly on Twitter

Rose was born in Kent, and studied at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester. She read Music as a choral scholar at King's College London and studied voice with Julie Kennard at the Royal Academy of Music. Upon graduating, Rose was accepted on the inaugural year of The Sixteen's training programme, Genesis Sixteen, where she was privileged to learn from Harry Christophers and Eamonn Dougan. Rose now pursues a busy ensemble career, enjoying singing with Platinum Consort, and other groups including The Sixteen and the Gabrieli Consort. As a soloist, Rose has performed Schumann's Frauenliebe und Leben  and Britten's Charm of Lullabies in the Chipping Campden Festival, and Grove Park festival, and has sung with Ryedale Festival Opera. She is also regularly engaged as an oratorio soloist.  

Rose teaches singing and piano in two prep schools, and often takes a leading part in educational workshops in schools and with youth choirs, with Platinum Consort and Fieri Consort.

Rose's Website - http://rose-martin.squarespace.com/
Rose on Twitter 

Simon Ponsford (countertenor) graduated with an MA Distinction from the Royal Academy of Music, where he was also awarded a Diploma for outstanding performance. He is a Lay Vicar in the choir of Westminster Abbey, alongside which he regularly appears as a recitalist and soloist. Simon began his musical training as a chorister in Gloucester Cathedral Choir, before taking up a Choral Scholarship at King’s College, Cambridge, where he read English Literature. Simon has sung with many professional choirs including Polyphony, the Monteverdi Choir and Tenebrae, and is a founder member of the Platinum Consort. Recent solo engagements include Handel’s Jephtha (Whitehall Choir, St John’s Smith Square), Bach’s Weihnachts-Oratorium (Platinum Consort, King’s Place) and Handel’s Messiah (English Symphony Orchestra). He has also had a CD of Elizabethan and Jacobean songs released by Nimbus Records. 

Simon's Website: www.sjhponsford.com
Simon on Twitter