Genesis Sixteen celebrates 15 years of introducing young singers to the choral world.
Groundbreaking partnership between The Sixteen and Genesis Foundation welcomes the fifteenth cohort to the programme.
Twenty-two singers and one conductor form the cohort for the 25/26 season, now one of the longest-running programmes of its kind
Over 300 singers have now been involved in the Genesis Sixteen programme, with alumni making waves in the UK and across the world
The Sixteen is pleased to reveal the names of the 22 young singers who will join the 15th cohort of Genesis Sixteen this autumn, as well as announcing Florence Price as the Genesis Sixteen Conducting Scholar.
Harry Christophers, Founder and Conductor of The Sixteen, says:
“We always look forward to welcoming a new cohort of Genesis Sixteen singers, and this year is no exception – we are thrilled to be welcoming such an exciting breadth of talent to the programme, supported by our friends and colleagues at the Genesis Foundation.
As we reach the important milestone of fifteen cohorts, we are also using this moment to celebrate the number of alumni this programme now has – many forging incredible careers as performers, teachers, workshop leaders and conductors.
We are incredibly proud of this programme and we look forward to seeing all that it can inspire in years to come.”
Supported by the Genesis Foundation, Genesis Sixteen is The Sixteen’s free young artists’ programme for 18-23-year-olds which aims to nurture the next generation of talented ensemble singers. Now entering its 15th year, Genesis Sixteen is the UK’s first ever fully funded programme of its kind.
The new cohort are:
Sopranos
Freya Barker
Laura Crooks
Helen Eastwood
Alice Platten
Ellen Steward
Ruth Williams
Beth Yates
Altos
Jess Atkinson
Sarah Colgan
Niamh Keaney
Blossom Martin
Ella Seymour
Tenors
Charlie Eastwood
Leo Fulwell
Oliver Heath
James Kitchingman
Albert Soriano
Basses
Orlando Barton Hodges
Niall Kelly
Kyle Siwek
James Upton
Alex White
The latest Genesis Sixteen cohort welcomes singers from across the UK and Northern Ireland, and this year introduces a singer who has been involved in The Sixteen’s Talent Development Pipeline project. The project, now in its third year, sees The Sixteen in partnership with Barnsley Youth Choirs, the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Voices and London Youth Choirs, offering young singers the opportunity to develop skills and discover pathways in the industry. The programme also aims to diversify the talent pipeline of singers entering young artists programmes, ensuring that singers from across the country have equal opportunities to take part in the world of choral music.
During the course of a year, a series of week-long and weekend courses are led by key figures from The Sixteen, including founder and conductor Harry Christophers and associate conductor Eamonn Dougan. Participants also receive group tuition, individual mentoring, one-per-part consort training from members of The Sixteen and masterclasses run by some of the world’s top vocal experts. Support from the Genesis Foundation means participants receive free tuition and a bursary to cover all additional costs.
James Kitchingham, a tenor in the fifteenth cohort of Genesis Sixteen, says:
“I’m really looking forward to meeting the other members of my cohort and also learning from some incredibly inspiring professionals over the course of the year. I hope that I’ll become a more well-rounded musician by next summer thanks to Genesis Sixteen.”
Sarah Colgan, an alto in the fifteenth cohort of Genesis Sixteen, says:
“I’m excited to be making music with like-minded singers who also share a deep passion for choral music. The opportunity to work at such a high artistic level, with guidance from some of the UK’s most respected musicians, is incredibly exciting and such an honour. I’m especially eager to hone my ensemble skills, explore a wide range of repertoire, and to be part of a programme that so clearly nurtures both musical and personal growth.”
Recent members of Genesis Sixteen are forging impressive careers. Jessica Cale, Bethany Horak-Hallett and Matthew McKinney, three singers from the third, fourth and seventh cohort respectively will form the three main roles in The Railway Children – a new opera by Mark Anthony Turnage to be staged at Glyndebourne this Autumn. Also in the opera world, Ella Blair who formed part of the twelfth cohort of Genesis Sixteen, this year joins the Vienna State Opera Chorakademie.
Elsewhere, Matthew Quinn, conducting scholar from the eleventh cohort, now takes on the role of Chorus Director at ENO, in addition to being Principal Conductor of National Youth Choir (15-18 group). Three Genesis Sixteen alumni now also form part of The Sixteen: Elizabeth Paul from the third cohort is the newest member of the alto section, joining tenor Oscar Golden-Lee from the seventh cohort and alto Edward McMullan from the first cohort as full time members of the choir.
The current and fourteenth cohort of Genesis Sixteen will complete their training in a performance at The Sixteen’s annual Sounds Sublime festival at St James’s Piccadilly. The annual event curated by The Sixteen showcases the passion, joy and diversity of the human voice, and this year celebrates young voices and their extraordinary talent as choral musicians.