Since graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Janet has worked professionally as both solo artist and consort singer. While specializing in early music and performing with many of the UK’s leading ensembles, her versatility has led to her performing and enjoying all genres from Tallis and Purcell to Verdi and Puccini, backing on pop CD’s, Jazz and Disney soundtracks, as well as enjoying an end of course Karaoke session !
Janet has long worked closely with Norfolk based composer Patrick Hawes. Their first album, ‘Blue in Blue’ featured Janet’s ‘voice like melting honey on freshly buttered toast’ (Radio3) with the English Chamber Orchestra. The album was released to much critical acclaim. It became the highest ever entry in the UK’s Classic FM ‘Hall of Fame’ and continues to be regularly featured in their programming. She premiered the song cycle especially written for her, ‘The Call’ in Lincoln Cathedral with The English Chamber Orchestra. Her work with Patrick has launched her into the world of media music and her ‘bell-like tones’ (Financial Times) can be heard regularly on TV, radio and films as well as on numerous classical and pop CD’s. A new CD ‘Song of Songs’ has just been released and Janet will be the singing the premiere of this work with the Cecilia Consort in Douai Abbey on October 17th 2009.
Janet regularly tours Australia, the United States and Europe with The Tallis Scholars. Janet has just returned from Japan where she sang her 700th concert for the group. Her 2009-10 diary promises another busy season with these ‘a cappella super stars’ (Boston Globe), with whom she has sung since 1991. She is currently a director of the ensemble’s hugely popular Summer Schools (TSSS), which celebrate their 10th Anniversary this year. To celebrate this anniversary, The Tallis Scholars will be performing in Merton Chapel, Oxford on July15th. (All welcome - see TSSS website for details.)
As well as fulfilling her solo engagements, one of her most recent being Strauss ‘Four Last Songs’, Janet is also in great demand as a choral director. She regularly judges competitions and leads singing master classes and choral workshops, her most recent being for Goring Chamber Choir. Janet is very enthusiastic about working with amateur singers and loves working with The Cecilia Consort, which performs twice a year. She is presently the assistant musical director of Newbury Choral Society, who she has just directed in a performance of Haydn’s ‘Creation’ with ‘London Concertante’.
Yet, despite her busy schedule, Janet still finds time to teach her ever growing hoard of singing pupils at Cheam School, be a mother to Charlotte and Oliver, wife to Andy – and a very good friend to many.
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