Olivia Tait is our new Junior Conducting Fellow
We are delighted to welcome Olivia Tait as our latest Junior Conducting Fellow, following in the footsteps of four other young conductors who have been supported by the JCS: Christopher Hann, Helen Smee, Patrick Barrett and Louisa Denby.
Olivia will be conducting us in Cecilia McDowall’s Deus, qui claro lumine when we perform at St Gabriel’s Church, Pimlico on Thursday 4th November – read more about our ‘Lux Beata’ programme here www.jcos.co.uk/performances/ and tickets are now available from www.eventbrite.co.uk.
Olivia is a London based conductor, recently having graduated with a distinction in her MA Choral Conducting from the Royal Academy of Music, where she held an entrance scholarship and studied under Patrick Russill. As well as her Junior Fellowship with the Joyful Company of Singers, Olivia is also the St Martin-in-the-Fields Conducting Fellow, where she works with the St Martin’s Choral Scholars and Chamber Choir in conducting weekly services. She is also the Genesis Sixteen Conducting Scholar 2020/21 where she receives tutoring from Harry Christophers and Eamonn Dougan in conducting the Genesis Sixteen Choir in courses throughout the year. This summer, Olivia received a place on the Jette Parker Women Conductors Course, where she conducted scenes from Verdi’s La Traviata with the City of London Sinfonia at the Royal Opera House under the tuition of Sian Edwards, Alice Farnham and Jessica Cottis and went on to deputise as chorus master for Opera Holland Park’s production of Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen. She also participated in the DIMA International Choral Conducting Competition where she placed as finalist and received the Gheorge Dima Special Prize.
Her previous work has included assistant with the English National Opera Baylis’ production of Carmen, assisting with the London Symphony Chorus in leading warm ups, conducting the University of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the University of Birmingham Women’s Chamber Choir. Olivia graduated with a first class honours degree in music from the University of Birmingham where she studied orchestral conducting under Daniele Rosina and was mentored by Simon Halsey.
***
The Joyful Company of Singers is committed to developing the next generation of choral conductors – and we are generously supported in this by the Friends of the JCS. If you would like to contribute to this support by becoming a Friend, find out more at www.jcos.co.uk/become-a-friend/.