Programme

1)    The First Noel
2)    O Holy Night
3)    Mary did you know?
4)    Little road to Bethlehem
5)    The Sussex Mummers ( Piano Solo)
6)    White Christmas ( Piano Solo)
7)    God rest ye Merry gentlemen
8)    A Christmas Greeting
9)    It’s the most wonderful time of Christmas- ( Piano Solo)
10) Finale : A Festival of Carol

Profiles

Tenor – Alex Pinkston

Alex Pinkstone has been singing since the age of five, active in choirs and numerous musicals throughout primary and secondary school. He has been a tenor for nearly ten years, engaging with repertoire from Mozart, Handel, Brahms, Purcell, and many other composers from the 20th Century and before. With his secondary school Chapel Choir, he has sung in numerous European countries, including Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Czechia and Poland. This year he has been part of several successful opera performances, playing Basilio in The Marriage of Figaro with both Bath Opera and Wedmore Opera, followed by Nanki-Poo in The Mikado with Bath Gilbert and Sullivan Society. His next appearance will be as Jupiter in Semele, once again with Bath Opera.

Soprano – Bruna Figueiredo

Bruna Figueiredo is a Brazilian soprano born in Rio de Janeiro. She started her musical training from an early age with piano lessons and later singing lessons, which led to her Bachelor’s in Music (Classical Singing), at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). During her undergraduate course she took part in many academic Opera productions such as Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”, “Così fan Tutte”, Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” and more. She performed at some of the most important concert halls in Rio de Janeiro as a member of the choir Brasil Ensemble. In 2021 Bruna did a Postgraduate Opera course at ESMAE (Porto, Portugal). In 2022 she was a semifinalist in the Maria Callas Brazilian Singing Competition. Now in the UK, Bruna has just finished her MA Music Performance course at Bath Spa University. This year she has also played the role of Barbarina in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and is rehearsing Handel’s opera Semele in the role of Iris, both with Bath Opera.

Pianist – Violet Wong

Violet Wong, pianist, started learning the classical piano when she was 6 and is currently a music tutor in Bristol. Violet was also a pop pianist in Hong Kong. One of the most significant and impressive experiences for Violet was attending the Annual Dinners of the Federation of Australian Alumni Association. Violet is a former trumpet player in the Hong Kong Civil Aid Service (Band Company) and is well-trained in marching with music. She has performed at different official functions including Officer Mess Dinners, New Recruit Passing Out Ceremonies and National Flag Raising Ceremonies. In 2015 she was awarded the “Best Progress Member of the Year” in the band. In 2017 she joined the Hong Kong Wind Ensemble and performed in local community halls.

In 2020, Violet continued her music career in London and Bristol. She has performed in St Martin in the Field (Chinese Congregation) and St. Mary Woodford choirs. She also participated in brass bands including the South London Wind Ensemble, the University of Bristol Brass Band (2021/2022), and the Long Ashton Orchestra. Last year, she participated in Unibrass 2022 in Sheffield. In 2023, apart from studying for her Masters and teaching, Violet led her students at the Bristol Festival of Music, Drama and Speech where they were awarded distinction and second place. Violet was also first invited by a Finland Music organiser, as being the jury member of the International Scandinavian Instrumental Music Competition 2023.

Violet performed a recital in Bath Abbey in July this year. In this Christmas season, she is glad to share music again here with the community.