The Sopranos

“The Sopranos” are back for another wonderful concert featuring a varied programme of sacred and secular music. Principal soloists are Birgit Staatsmann, Amanda Faulkner and Kerry Tattersall, supported by Richard Harris, Wendy Geddes, Sarah Sew Hoy and Kate Hartland. They are accompanied by the sought after pianist, Lindsay Coxen. All profits will be donated to Napier Civic and Waiapu Cathedral Choirs. The singers present a concert of two halves featuring sacred music in part one and secular in part two. The music includes works by Bach, Purcell, Mozart, Haydn, Gurney, Bellini and Verdi. The performers bring a wealth of talent and experience and are regularly seen and heard singing in Hawke’s Bay: Amanda Faulkner is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama who then went on to complete post-graduate studies in music at New College, Oxford University. She has extensive experience of performance in oratorio, opera and early music throughout the UK and beyond. At 27, Faulkner returned to study and became a doctor of medicine. She now specialises in psychiatry whilst maintaining her passion for music and singing throughout the Bay. Birgit Staatsmann studied voice and speech therapy in Germany, where she had her own practice before moving to New Zealand after marrying a Kiwi. She has performed with various choirs as both a soloist and choir member and performs regularly in the Bay at lunch-time concerts and music society events. Kerry Tattersall is a versatile soprano with an interest in a range of musical styles including early music, a cappella and choral singing. She sings regularly in the Bay with the Octavius vocal ensemble, Waiapu Cathedral Choir and as a soloist. Kerry is an employment law specialist and licensed private investigator, providing employment law/relations services to her clients throughout New Zealand. Lindsay Coxen studied piano at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and graduated with Honours in Classical Performance. During that time, she performed Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto with the Linden Park Sinfonia and was the rehearsal pianist for the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the BBC. She is currently Head of Music at Iona College and is very much in demand as a freelance accompanist. Tickets cost $25 at the door (cash or bank transfer only). Children under 16 are free but a koha would be appreciated.