Presenting two grand sacred choral works from the great Classical musical tradition: the famous Requiem by Mozart, left unfinished at his death in 1791, but beloved in the version completed by Süssmayr, with its raging Dies Irae and tearful Lacrimosa; in contrast, the lyrical and brilliant Theresienmesse by Haydn, written in 1799 for the Esterházy court. A fine quartet of soloists, orchestra and choir perform music which will both deeply touch the soul and positively raise the spirit.

This concert will last approximately 1 hour 55 minutes (including interval).

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About Ann Wilkes (Soprano)

Yorkshire born soprano Ann Wilkes, studied at the Royal Northern College of Music both for her undergraduate studies, where she was awarded a first-class honours degree, and her masters where she studied with Louise Winter. Her roles at RNCM included Suor Dolcina in Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Moth in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

She is in demand as an Oratorio singer and upcoming concerts include Vivaldi’s Magnificat (amongst other works) at Coro Amici’s Easter Concert, Haydn’s Paukenmesse at the Pennine Spring Music Festival, and Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Theresienmesse with the Liverpool Welsh Choral Union.

Ann also enjoys performing contemporary pieces and is thrilled to have been one of the featured soloists in the world premiere of Citizens of Nowhere, composed by RNCM alumna Anna Appleby at the Tête-à-Tête Opera Festival in 2017. She also premiered Fireworks by Grace-Evangeline Mason, a solo written for Ann with a symphony orchestra.

Ann lives in Manchester and works as Fundraising Officer for the charity Manchester Action on Street Health. She sings with the psychedelic-folk band Cobalt Chapel, is trying to learn the Bowed Psaltery, and enjoys exploring the folk repertoire.

Ann Wilkes Soprano — Ann Wilkes (Soprano)

About Stuart Keen (Tenor)

Stuart has had a lifelong association with Liverpool Cathedral, having joined the cathedral choir in 1974 as a boy chorister. He moved to the back rows as a lay clerk in 1984 and was appointed lay-succentor in 2005. During his cathedral career, Stuart has sung solos on numerous recordings in addition to live radio and television broadcasts. He has also appeared as a soloist with a number of other choirs across the North West of England and North Wales including the RLPO, Liverpool Welsh Choral Union and the Southport Bach Choir. As well as singing, Stuart is founder director of the St Nicholas Singers and the Pilgrim Singers with whom he has broadcast on both radio and television and before several members of the Royal Family. One of the more unusual things he has done is directing Tallis’s 40-part motet Spem in alium in Liverpool’s Central Station.

About Damien O'Keeffe (Bass)

English freelance baritone Damian O’Keeffe began his musical career as Head Chorister at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, moving on to be a Choral Scholar at St John’s College Cambridge under Dr George Guest. He has sung with a range of Early Music ensembles including the Cardinall’s Musick, King’s Consort and Binchois Consort singing in venues across Europe and America including, Lufthansa Festival, Spitalfields Festival, The Purcell Room, BBC Proms, Cadogan Hall and the Bath Festival, Princeton and Columbia Universities, Rutgers, Amsterdam, Turin and Milan. While working with the Cardinall’s Musick, he recorded the discography of William Byrd (The Byrd Edition). As a member of The King’s Consort, he has been involved in several recordings including Lo Sposalizio and Let the Bright Seraphim and appeared in live Radio 3 broadcasts at Cadogan Hall and the Bath Festival. Recently he has appeared with the London-based Early Music group Alamire at the York Early Music Festival performing Tallis Songs of Reformation and The Regensburg Early Music Festival performing motets by Hieronymus Praetorius.

As a soloist Damian performs a wide repertoire from baroque to contemporary music in cathedrals, concert halls, music festivals and recitals. Notable performances across the country include, JS Bach: St John Passion (under Paul Agnew) and JS Bach: St Matthew Passion (under Nathalie Stutzmann), Elgar: The Kingdom, Orff: Carmina Burana all with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Mozart Requiem with Westminster Cathedral Choir.

Recent engagements include: Goodall: Eternal Light Requiem, Stanford: Bible Songs, Handel: Samson, Haydn: Nelson Mass, Dvorak: Stabat Mater, A.Scarlatti: St John Passion, Handel: Messiah, Brahms: German Requiem, Fauré: Requiem, JS Bach: St Matthew Passion, JS Bach: St John Passion, Finzi: In Terra Pax, JS Bach: Wachet Auf, recitals including – American Song, Finzi and Vaughan Williams

Future engagements include: Pergolesi: Magnificat, Vivaldi: Magnificat, Handel: Messiah, Haydn: Paukenmesse, recitals – Blackburn Cathedral, Brecon Cathedral, St John’s Church Chester, Liverpool Cathedral.

When not performing, Damian leads workshops and teaches singing to pupils of all ages on a private basis successfully preparing pupils for Oxbridge choral scholarships and conservatoires alongside working with both boy and girl choristers at a range of cathedrals. He is also a singing teacher for the Rodolfus Foundation and Choral Courses.

Damien O Keeffe Bass — About Damien O'Keeffe (Bass)