Join us for a delightful evening of music and merriment at the Winter Music Soiree! Prepare to be serenaded by talented musicians from various genres, as they showcase their exceptional skills and passion for music. From classical compositions to contemporary tunes, this soirée promises to captivate your senses and leave you with a lasting musical experience.

Whether you're a music enthusiast or simply looking for a delightful evening out, the Winter Music Soiree is the perfect event to unwind and enjoy the magic of live performances. So gather your friends and loved ones, and join us for an unforgettable night of musical enchantment.

Musicians Performing

St Mary’s and
St John’s Choir

This wonderful choir, involving members from St Mary’s East Molesey and St John’s Hampton Wick, came together for the first time this Christmas to perform at their respective carol services. They enjoyed singing together so much that they have continued to m’eet weekly! Under the directorship of Laetitia, they have sung a wide range of repertoire whilst also learning how to improve their singing technique with ‘interesting, silly and fun’ singing exercises, which has certainly encouraged them out of their comfort zones! Their next big performance, now that they are on a roll of performing in public, will be at the Good Friday services at St Mary’s and St John’s.

Laetitia Allen

[soprano]

Laetitia always loved singing but came to it late in her youth after completing her grades in piano, violin and viola (and dabbling a bit in flute!). She went onto study music at Edinburgh University. Loving the life of the eternal student she then studied Postgraduate Studies and Integrated Masters in singing at Trinity College of Music and completed her studies, much to her family’s relief, at the Royal College of Music. A day after graduating from RCM she married Toby and moved to the Big Apple, living in New York City, where her first performance included, unbeknown to her, singing to a room full of editors of American Vogue including Anna Wintour! Laetitia has performed solo works across the world, training choirs in Kenya, Uganda and Thailand and the adventurous towns of Molesey and Hampton Wick! Whilst starting a family her performance career took a back seat, and her new audience members consisted of those under the age of 5 when she set up Classical Adventures, music classes for babies and pre-schoolers. These youngsters, along with her three children, were always her harshest critics. Laetitia is now enjoying getting back to performing again, whilst still teaching singing and piano, and helping to organise more concerts, like this one.

Alice Woodbridge

[soprano]

After a degree in Astrophysics and time as a management consultant, Alice sought to re-capture her soul by taking up a postgrad scholarship to Trinity College of Music. Thereafter, she enjoyed a wonderful decade on the opera singing circuit.

Her most memorable gigs include: a flamboyant concert tour of Mexico singing Bach, Handel and Monteverdi with countertenor and baroque orchestra; a prolonged out-of-body experience while performing the role of Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress; and maintaining a semi-straight face whilst singing Three Little Maids with Sir John Tomlinson and Mark Padmore at the launch concert of her Song-Cycling extravaganza, in which she cycled from concert to concert the length of the UK in aid of Alzheimer’s Society.

While she’s back in a city job now, Alice has “doing Violetta in La Traviata” on her bucket list. She still adores singing Mozart and Strauss, which has rubbed off on her son and daughter who have been known to erupt into Queen of the Night. However, having recently discovered karaoke on YouTube, crooning Maria Mckee and Beverley Craven around the house seems to be better tolerated by the kids and husband.

Hannah Pedley

[mezzo-soprano]

Hannah played Maddalena at Opera Holland Park last summer, having previously sung the title role in Carmen, Olga (Eugene Onegin), Cherubino (Nozze di Figaro), Lola (Cavalleria Rusticana), and Rita the Rat (Fantastic Mr Fox) for them. Other roles have included Romeo (I Capuleti e i Montecchi) for Grange Park, Ottavia (Coronation of Poppea) and Medea (Giasone) for English Touring Opera, Nancy (Albert Herring) for New Kent Opera, Melissa cover (Anna Nicole) Royal Opera House and the title role in the Rape of Lucretia in Oxford. She has performed as a soloist many times for Buxton Festival, ROH2 and the Dynamic Second Movement.

On the concert platform, highlights include Beethoven Missa Solemnis, 9th Symphony and Handel Messiah with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Messiah with Manchester Camerata and Les Agremens (Brussels and Namur) and Verdi Requiem at The Lighthouse Poole.

She has performed galas in Italy, Russia and South America and solo recitals for Opera Diversa in Prague, Wexford and Buxton Festivals. Hannah made her US debut singing Mozart’s Requiem with Harry Christophers and the Boston Handel and Haydn Society. She performed St Matthew Passion with Harry Christophers and Streetwise Opera which was televised on BBC4.

She lives in Molesey with her husband, son and 2 dogs and is delighted to be singing for such a worthy cause this evening.

www.instagram.com/hannahpedmezzo

Leo Selleck

[bass-baritone]

A graduate of Durham University and the Royal College of Music, bass-baritone Leo Selleck has studied with Peter Savidge, Julian Gavin, Jeffrey Black and Paul Austin Kelly. At the RCM, Leo was a Josephine Baker scholar and in opera scenes performed as Don Alfonso (Cosi fan Tutte) and Warden (Dead Man Walking). In 2023, Leo was accepted to take part in the Przemysl International Opera Competition in Poland and in 2024 will join the Glyndebourne Festival chorus. On the opera stage, he sang at the 2023 Longborough Festival and performed Leporello (Don Giovanni) for Arcadian Opera at Stowe. Other opera roles have included Il Conte (Le Nozze di Figaro) for Ensemble Orquesta, a critically acclaimed Huascar/Bellone (Les Indes Galantes), Sailor (Dido and Aeneas) at St-Martin-in-the-Fields and Morales (Carmen).

Leo has sung a range of oratorio repertoire including recently Handel’s Messiah at Lincoln Cathedral and Haydn’s The Creation with Jeremy Summerly. Leo has also been involved in contemporary opera as an original cast member for Stephen Brown's 'Brainland' (www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk). Future plans include Sciarrone/Gaoler (Tosca) in a concert performance with the Lambeth Orchestra and Stanford’s Songs of the Sea in concert.

Olivia Skwara

[piano]

Originating from a family of musicians in Gdansk, Poland, Olivia embarked on her musical odyssey with a public performance at seven, marking the prelude to a prodigious career. At ten, she astounded audiences with Haydn's piano concerto, setting the stage for a journey to Moscow where she studied under the renowned Lev Naumov at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatoire, graduating with honors in 2002. Olivia, certified as a performer, teacher, accompanist, and chamber ensemble artist, showcased her prowess on the international stage, notably captivating audiences in China from 2005 to 2010 and conducting masterclasses at the Jakarta Music Festival in 2008.

A laureate of piano competitions across Europe, Olivia's repertoire transcends borders, resonating in European countries, in Australia and the United States. Her most recent performances include enchanting audiences at the Riverhouse Barn inWalton on Thames and delighting attendees at the Alderney Performing Arts Festival.

Now based in London, she wears multiple hats as a chamber musician and teacher, founding the Creative Chords School in Molesey. Her global influence expanded as a jury member at the Windsor International Piano Competition in 2016, affirming her esteemed status in the classical music community.

www.creativechords.co.uk

Ain’t Misbehavers

[jazz duo]

Ain’t Misbehavers are a jazz and blues duo compromising of the singer: Jemma Vater, and the pianist: Angus Havers. They have performed at public and private events/venues such as The Gherkin.

Angus has composed and arranged for a number of diverse performers, helping them turn from singers into artists. In 2020, he co-wrote “Strangers” with Leah Weller. The song was produced by Ocean Colour Scene’s Steve Cradock, and recorded at Paul Weller’s Black Barn Studio.

Angus has composed music for feature films such as Fly Fishing, which won Best Score at the California Independent Film Festival, and worked on top tv series like Linda La Plante’s Trial and Retribution.

www.angushavers.com

The Molesey Churches Night Shelter exists to provide vital support for the most vulnerable people in Elmbridge during the winter months through shelter, warm meals, and additional support in the journey to finding long-term accommodation.

Find out more: www.moleseycns.org