Repertoire - Elgar's Dream of Gerontius

Choirs - Capel, Dorking, Epsom, Leatherhead and Oxshott

Supported by Southern Pro Musica

Performers

Carris Jones - Mezzo Soprano Soloist

Carris Jones has founded her career on a deep love of singing, and is dedicated to helping others discover the transformational power of the human voice. Equally at home singing Byrd in a consort or solo on stage at the Barbican, she has appeared as a soloist across the UK and abroad with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia and the English Concert. Her operatic career includes performing and covering roles at English National Opera and Garsington Opera.

As a consort singer, Carris has sung across five continents, on radio and television, and on the soundtracks of numerous films including the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises. She was a founder member of Stile Antico, with whom she won a ClassicFM Gramophone award and was twice nominated for the Grammy awards.

Carris also has a busy teaching practice, working at the University of Oxford, for the National Youth Choir of Great Britain as a Vocal Lead and as Vocal Coach to the BBC Symphony Chorus. She is also in demand as an expert on choral music and women in church music in particular, making recent appearances on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Radio 3’s In Tune.

In 2017, Carris joined the Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, the first female Vicar Choral to be appointed in its one-thousand-year history. Since joining, she has worked for the introduction of girl choristers into the Cathedral’s world-famous choir. In 2023, in recognition of this, and her significant contribution to the music industry, she was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.

Charne Rochford - Tenor Soloist

Born in London, Charne Rochford is gaining reputation as one of Britain’s most prominent young dramatic tenors. In concert he has performed with most of the major British orchestras including: The Halle, The Philharmonia, CBSO, LSO, Manchester Camerata, and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.  This season he made his debut with the BBC Concert Orchestra on ‘Friday Night is Music Night’ broadcast on Radio 3, and subsequently with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, singing the role of Marc in the European premiere of Huang Ruo’s M. Butterfly.

He was also the soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall. In opera Charne is becoming increasingly associated with the works of Wagner. Last year saw him make his debut as Siegfried (Siegfried and Götterdämerung) at Longborough Festival Opera, Walter in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Saffron Hall and Tristan with the Ealing Symphony Orchestra. Later this year he will sing the title role in Tannhäuser in Sofia, Bulgaria and his role debut as Erik in Der Fliegende Holländer.  He made his cinematic debut in 2005 at the Venice Film Festival as Second Officer in The Magic Flute directed by Kenneth Branagh, conducted by James Conlon. In 2014 he was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM).

Trevor Eliot Bowes - Bass Soloist

Trevor Eliot Bowes studied at the University of Toronto, the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He is a former Britten Pears Young Artist and Equilibrium Young Artist.

Recent operatic highlights include Antonio The Marriage of Figaro, Benoît La bohème Drive & Live, (English National Opera); Father Trulove The Rake’s Progress, Colline La bohème, Seneca The Coronation of Poppea (English Touring Opera); Alidoro La Cenerentola (Nevill Holt Opera); Sergeant of Police The Pirates of Penzance (Opera Holland Park); Father Trulove The Rake’s Progress (Munich Philharmonic); and Basilio Il barbiere di Siviglia (West Green House Opera). Other roles include Figaro Le nozze di Figaro, Leporello Don Giovanni, Don Alfonso Così fan tutte, Death Savitri, Cadmus and Somnus Semele, Léandre L’amour des trois Oranges, Don Inigo L’heure espagnole, Simone Gianni Schicchi and Sarastro Die Zauberflöte; Talbot Maria Stuarda, and Drum-maker The Adventures of Pinocchio.

Concert appearances include Haydn Paukenmesse (London Philharmonic Orchestra); Mozart Requiem (Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Hallé); Handel Aci, Galatea e Polifemo (OAE); Handel Messiah (London Handel Festival); Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols (Orchestra of English National Opera); Bach Cantata 71 (Toronto International Bach Festival); and Thief Peer Gynt (Royal Scottish National Orchestra). In future seasons he will make his debuts with the Hallé and London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Repertoire - Will Todd's Passion Music and Jazz Missa Brevis

Choirs - Beare Green & Newdigate, Bookham, Buckland & Betchworth, Holmbury St. Mary, Horsley and Mickleham

Supported by Southern Pro Musica

Performers

Will Todd - Piano

Jazz ensamble:

Gareth Huw Davies - Bass

Jim Fleeman - Drums

Jack Pinter Alto/Soprano - Saxaphone

Graeme Flowers - Trumpet

Tom Dunnett - Trombone

Chris Kimber - Timpani

Shaneeka Simon - Soloist

Shaneeka Simon is a singer-songwriter with a dulcet, honeyed voice and captivating charisma, reminiscent of vocal legends and greats such as Mavis Staples and Gladys Knight.

Her journey as a singer began in church gospel choirs at a very young age, under her Grandmother’s leadership and guidance in the city of London.

Her love for singing blossomed there, leading her to become a regular 1st call session singer on major studio recordings on London’s session scene.

Shaneeka’s credits include albums, projects and performances with esteemed artists including Will Todd, James Morrison, Casey Abrams, Sting, Ricardo Arjona, Englebert Humperdinck and Will Young, to name a few. 

Shaneeka featured on a duet with Grammy Nominee Eric Bibb’s 2021 Album via the Mascot Label Music Group. Most recently she released her debut single ‘Underground Railroad’ with Eric Bibb also. 

With her highly anticipated debut full-length album, Shaneeka is positioned to attract an untapped yet hungry fanbase for her special voice, which embodies the great rich tradition of Soul, Blues & Jazz music for the modern era of music lovers around the globe. 

Her album is co-written and produced by British Producer & Musician Glen Scott, whose body of work includes Shawn Mendes, Backstreet Boys, Craig David, Eric Bibb, James Blunt, Beverly Knight, Ron Sexsmith and Cat Stevens to name a few.

Shaneeka continues her journey across the globe, performing music and crafting her own story to inspire others. 2025 will be a year of meaningful storytelling and connection.

A wonderful opportunity to sing the Messiah with Neil Ferris.

The choir will be joined by the specialist baroque orchestra Canzona and soprano soloist Isabelle Haile.

Singers can register in the autumn and can find the rehearsal schedule here.

Mendelssohn – Elijah

Come and experience the drama of Mendelssohn’s powerful oratorio Elijah - full of fabulous choruses and beautiful melodies - all under the guidance of new Festival Conductor, Neil Ferris.

The day will culminate with an informal performance of selections from the piece, with professional soloists.

Please note: the nearest car park is the public carpark adjacent to the church just a few yards away at St Martin's Walk, Mill Lane Dorking.  Sat Nav Post Code: RH4 1UX.

Registration and further singer information can be found here.

Buy a ticket

For all keen choral singers - come and enjoy a day at Dorking Halls exploring one of the truly great choral works, Brahms - Requiem.  Rehearse under the inspired leadership of Leith Hill Music Festival's music director Jonathan Willcocks, the day ending with an informal performance for which we will be joined by two superb professional soloists Jessica Lawley (soprano) and Ross Fettes (baritone).

• Registration from: 9.45am

• Singing session 1: 10.30am-11.45am

• Break (no coffee): 11.45am-12pm

• Singing session 2: 12pm-1pm

• Lunch: 1pm-2.15pm

• Singing session 3: 2.15pm-3.30pm

• Break (to include raffle draw and tea/coffee): 3.30pm-4pm

• Informal performance: 4pm-5pm

Tickets including music: £25