Laurence Blyth
Laurence Blyth is the musical director of choral societies in Exeter, Exmouth and Wellington and conductor of the Taunton-based liturgical chamber choir In Ecclesia. He is also musical director of the Somerset Community Foundation’s annual Sing for Somerset event in Wells Cathedral. He was previously a member of the cathedral choirs in Exeter and Truro and now sings countertenor in the Buckfast Abbey Choir and as an oratorio soloist and consort singer around the south west. Laurence Blyth read music at the University of Exeter and subsequently graduated with a master’s degree in choral conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. At RWCMD his studies with Simon Halsey, Adrian Partington and Neil Ferris were supported by the Busenhart Morgan-Evans Foundation and the EMI Music Sound Foundation. He also conducted in masterclasses with Edward Caswell, Peter Broadbent, Sarah Tenant-Flowers, John Butt, Robert Dean and Eric Whitacre. Recent highlights on the podium include performances of Bach Christmas Oratorio and St Matthew Passion, Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem and Bernstein Chichester Psalms. Plans for the 2017 season include Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony in Exeter Cathedral (Exeter Symphony Orchestra), a return to Wells Cathedral support of the Somerset Community Foundation (Mid Somerset Orchestra) and a workshop with members of the Exeter Festival Chorus. As a countertenor, Laurence Blyth’s solo performances have included Bach Magnificat, St John Passion and various Cantatas (Exeter Cathedral), Orff Carmina Burana, Kodaly Missa Brevis, Handel Messiah (Exeter University, Powderham Castle and Teatro Leal, Tenerife), Mozart Requiem, Haydn Missa in tempore belli (Exeter Cathedral) and Harmoniemesse, Vivaldi Gloria and Stabat Mater and Pergolesi Stabat Mater (Powderham Castle). |