Artists' Biographies

Duncan Saunderson ~ Bass

Duncan graduated from The Guildhall School of Music, as a countertenor, in 1985. He regularly deputised in the Choirs of Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral under some of the finest choral conducters in the world including John Scott, Simon Preston and Barry Rose. On an ad hoc basis, he has also sung for distinguished choral conducters such as Sir David Willcocks, George Guest, David Hill, Stephen Darlington, Bill Ives, Robert King and Christopher Hogwood.
In 1990, Duncan was appointed Alto Layclerk in The Choir of New College, Oxford before retraining as a bass. During term, he sings 6 evenings a week under Dr. Edward Higginbottom, Oxford University's first, and newly appointed, Professor of Choral Music. With this distinguished and busy touring Choir, he has recorded over 50 discs including Best Selling Classical Recording and Best Early Music Recording (International Gramaphone awards 1998/2008).
Duncan has conducted Summertown Choral Society in North Oxford since 1996.
He combines singing and conducting with singing teaching, mostly in London, and Oxfordshire where he presently teaches "Oliver" in the latest West End production.

Stephen Burrows ~ Countertenor

Stephen Burrows studied Music at Bristol University where he was both University Organ Scholar and a Choral Scholar in the Cathedral Choir. He studies singing with Nicholas Clapton and has also been taught by Stephen Taylor, Ghislaine Morgan and Ashley Stafford.

Stephen currently combines his freelance singing with a Lay Clerkship at Westminster Cathedral. An accomplished ensemble singer, he has worked with Tenebrae, The Gabrieli Consort, The New London Consort and The London Handel Singers. In addition he is a member of the male-voice consorts Liedertafel, Quintessential Voices and Opus Anglicanum.

He performs frequently on CD and in television and radio broadcasts. Engagements have taken him throughout the UK, Europe and the USA. He recently appeared at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in Dido and Aeneas and Acis and Galatea. In addition to solo and ensemble performance, he has been working closely with the pianist Andrew Plant on a wide range of recital repertoire.

Matthew Vine ~ Tenor

Matthew is a singer, teacher and examiner with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and has been a member of the choirs of St Paul's and Westminster Cathedrals, and Christ Church, Oxford. He has worked with artists from Val Doonican, Roy Castle and Russell Harty to Oz Clarke and Al Pacino. Matthew has performed regularly, often as a soloist, with The Sixteen, The King's Consort and the Clerks' Group, and tours and records with these groups and other ensembles such as the Huelgas Ensemble of Belgium, and the Viana Consort of Barcelona. He has recently been a soloist at The BBC Proms on two occasions.

Ben Alden ~ Tenor

Ben studied as an ABRSM scholar at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, completing a MMus degree in concert singing, studying under Peter Alexander Wilson.

Ben currently combines his freelance singing with a Lay Clerkship at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. As a committed ensemble singer, he works regularly with the Monteverdi Choir under Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the BBC Singers, Tenebrae, Polyphony, The Sixteen and Dunedin Consort. He appears frequently on CD and in television and radio broadcasts, including the BBC Proms. Engagements have taken him abroad throughout Europe, the Isle of Man and the U.S.A. and he has appeared on stage in the Salle Pleyel, Paris and The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Ben continues to promote himself as a soloist under the guidance of tenor Ryland Davies.

His performances include, Handel Messiah, Monteverdi 1610 Vespers, Mozart C minor Mass and Requiem, Bach St Matthew Passion, St John Passion, Mass in B minor, Magnificat and Christmas Oratorio, Elgar The Kingdom, Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle, Britten’s St Nicolas, Stainer’s Crucifixion, Haydn Nelson Mass and Harmoniemesse, Swayne Stabat Mater.