Magnificat Programme

British soprano Kirsty Taylor-Stokes made her Professional debut as The Cockerel in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen for Glyndebourne Opera, and has been described by Opera Now as “a really classy full-bodied voice .... who sings with spine-tingling delicate beauty”.

Kirsty studied at Birmingham Conservatoire (BMus hons) and then at The Royal Academy of Music (MMus, Dip Ram). Following her debut, she went on to sing several other roles and covers for Glyndebourne Festival including First Nymph in Dvořák‘s Rusalka, Female Chorus in Britten’s Rape of Lucretia, and Mimi for Glyndebourne’s Education programme.

Other appearances include covering Mimi for Grange Park Opera, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin for Garsington Opera, singing Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro for Garsington’s Alvarez programme in the UK and Corfu, Vrenchen in Delius’ A Village Romeo & Juliette at Cadogan Hall and Cio Cio San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly across France and the UK for Opera Loki.

Most recently Kirsty made two exciting role debut’s singing Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Minack Theatre, and Tosca for Opera Loki to great critical acclaim. A regular performer of Leider, her interpretations of Strauss, notably his Vier Letzte Lieder and Rachmaninov’s Songs are particular specialities.

Matthew studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire under the famous tenor, Professor Julian Pike, where he gained an Honours degree as a Bachelor of Music.

He has established a national and international reputation as both a choral and orchestral conductor, with many acclaimed performances across the UK and in Europe. He has conducted and worked with some of the most renowned orchestras in the UK, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra. Matthew is Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the International Film Orchestra and also the Let’s Sing National Choir which has a membership of singers from across the UK.

He has worked in many different genres of music, including Film, Classical, Broadway and Popular and has had the pleasure to conduct many internationally renowned soloists and artistes, including Dame Sarah Connolly, Andrew Kennedy, Tine-Thing Helseth, Kerry Ellis, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Joseph Moog, Anna-Liisa Bezrodny, Toby Spence and David Soar.

Matthew's broad experience with a variety of music has allowed him to work in many different musical fields, having directed many professional events, musicals, cabarets and pantomimes across the UK and Europe. In 2012 he was invited to be the Musical Director for the 30th Anniversary Concert for the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham, which included a World-Premiere commission. In 2019 Matthew conducted the Premiere of Celestial – a new work by renowned composer, Paul K Joyce, including live synchronised projections and soundscapes.

He has worked extensively as both a vocal and conducting coach and mentor to both amateur and professional ensembles/individuals across the UK and Europe, delivering a variety of master-classes and workshops.

In the role of Director of Music at Nottingham Trent University, Matthew has built and developed the music department at Nottingham Trent University from scratch, putting into place many successful musical ensembles, including the Award Winning NTU Chamber Choir who have given many acclaimed performances in Holland, Spain, India, China, Hungary, South Africa and the Czech Republic. The University Choir has also gained a national reputation for their performances alongside some of UK’s greatest orchestras and soloists.

Matthew is very much in demand as a professional tenor soloist, and is equally at home singing opera, oratorio or musical theatre. He is a well-known exponent of the English Song repertoire and he has a national reputation for his performances of Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man, and has performed the majority of the standard oratorio repertoire. On the operatic stage he has played many roles, including works by Britten, Mozart and Cavalli and he also created the role of Cecil, in the world premiere of Robin Grant’s opera Dee.

The Nottingham Trent University Chamber Choir is an award-winning auditioned ensemble led by Director of Music, Matthew Hopkins.

Comprised of students, staff and alumni of the University, the Choir has a varied repertoire — from baroque to contemporary music. It has performed in established concert venues across the UK and Europe alongside world-renowned musicians.

Each year, the Choir embarks on an international tour and in the past has visited India, China, Hungary, Spain, and the Czech Republic. In 2018 it was awarded a prestigious silver medal at the World Choir Games in South Africa, where it was the only ensemble in the competition to represent Great Britain.

Visit www.ntu.ac.uk/music to find out more about the Nottingham Trent University Choir and all of NTU Music’s events and activities.

Established in 2003, English Pro Musica is a professional orchestra based in central England which performs in a variety of permutations - from chamber ensembles to full symphony orchestra. Its extensive repertoire includes premieres of new works as well as the established classics, choral works, and opera.

As Orchestra in Residence at Nottingham Trent University, the orchestra supports the musical activities of the university under the musical direction of Matthew Hopkins, and featuring the university's choral groups. Previous performances have included works by John Rutter, Karl Jenkins and Ola Gjeilo in venues such as the Albert Hall, Southwell Minster and the University Hall.

Two years ago EPM joined the NTU chamber choir for the memorable concert of the works of Paul Carr - including the first performance of his saxophone concerto- with the composer present:-

“ It was lovely to have English Pro Musica playing the concert on Saturday in the glorious acoustic of Southwell Minster. What a great band of musicians they are, and some very fine solo playing too in some of the pieces. A richly hued sound from the strings in the “Air” and in the Saxophone Concerto, with the 2 oboes and harp blending perfectly in the Stabat Mater. It was a beautiful programme of my music and I could not have been more elated.”

EPM recently gave the premiere of Martin Ellerby’s Mass of the Winged Lion, specially commissioned by Ryton Choral Society.  We have recently completed a winter tour of The Snowman for Jenmat Productionsin venues including Norwich and Swansea. In the summer we shall be renewing our association with north-west based Heritage Opera in performances of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore and Puccini’s Madam Butterfly.