Join us for an evening of two halves.

In the tranquil setting of Taplow Court, Catherine Chapman and Lewis Spring, and special guest Matthew Spring take us on a musical journey of traditional opera and modern day folk.

Catherine is a London based mezzo-soprano who studied under the esteemed Isobel Buchanan, Leah Marion Jones and Pierre-Maurice Barlier. She has a Masters in Opera Performance from Bath Spa University and was awarded the Jennifer Skellett Young Artist Award. Her opera credits include: Carmen Carmen (as part of the Cardiff Singer of the World celebrations), Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro, Mauxalinda The Dragon of Wantley, Caliope Orpheus in the Underworld, Witch 2 Dido and Aeneas.

Catherine has had a varied singing career spanning from Bath, Cardiff, London, Europe and China. Singing with the BCC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra as well as working with community music groups.

As well as classical singing, Catherine has a deep love of folk music and vocal traditions spanning the British Isles.

Lewis Spring is an Oxford based singer, writer and teacher of music. Lewis’ musical career started at a young age as a chorister at New College and he was later awarded a choral scholarship (and subsequently a layclerkship) at Magdalen college, Oxford. As well as singing, Lewis plays violin, viola, piano, guitar and hurdy-gurdy. Lewis has toured across the country and internationally, both with choral ensembles, early music groups such as Sirinu, and more recently as a soloist, performing his own folk songs which are available on Spotify, as well as working with Matthew Spring on his collection of Cornish folk songs. Lewis often participates in community music projects, in particular, alongside Oxford’s Mel Houldershaw with DIY Musical Theatre and EOCC.

Matthew Spring studied music and history at Keele University and then went to Magdalen College Oxford to complete his DPhil. He studied the lute at the Royal College of Music and now follows parallel careers as lutenist/hurdy-gurdy player and musicologist. He has lectured at various universities and held a three-year Leverhulm Trust Fellowship at the London Guildhall University and a Radcliff Fellowship in Musicology for 1995-6 and was a lecturer in Early Music at Bath Spa University College for 25 years. He is regularly invited to contribute articles to musical journals and books and his book The Lute in Britain has been published by Oxford University Press. He is co-founder of Sirinu (Early Music Network Tours 1992/94) and has performed in duo with Sara Stowe for six years with appearances on Channel 4, Radio 4, and in major UK festivals. Together they have recorded for Chandos and Hyperion, toured extensively in Britain and Europe, and commissioned a large number of new works for early instruments and voice.

The trio are incredibly excited to be working with Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service to raise money for such a wonderful charity. They would like to thank Connor Consultancy Ltd and NFP for their financial support they have provided and Tai Bishop and her team for their support and enthusiasm in helping to create this special evening.