The Winkleigh Singers
"WONDERFUL SHOW FROM THE WINKLEIGH SINGERS"
Gothic Splendour
Torrington Parish Church, 27th March 2010
with

Mark Hounsell was born in Northampton and received his early musical education as a chorister at All Saints, the parish church of Northampton. He was the first chorister to be awarded a music scholarship to St. Peters Independent school. At the age of 14 Mark’s voice broke and immediately started to sing Tenor.
Following his gap year as a choral scholar in Truro Cathedral, he moved to be a Vicar Choral at Lichfield Cathedral while studying at Birmingham Conservatoire with Julian Pike. Mark then moved to St. Albans to be a Lay Clerk. In September of this year he was appointed a Vicar Choral at Wells Cathedral. As well as singing with lots of Cathedral choirs, Mark has enjoyed singing with ensembles including Ex Cathedra and The Joyful Company of Singers, and is lucky enough to have sung on 10 CD recordings, toured across Europe and America and sung solos on both Radio 3 and 4.
Recent engagements have included Mozart Requiem, Bach Magnificats (J.S. and C.P.E.), Handel Messiah & Dixit Dominus, Haydn Creation & Nelson Mass, Jepthe in Carissimi’s work of the same title, Acis in Acis and Galatea (Handel) and Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas (Purcell).
When Mark isn’t singing he spends his time as a dispensing optician. His hobbies include most sports, cooking and walking and is looking forward to pursuing these hobbies in his new life in the West country.

Jonathan Wagstaff is a 26-year-old baritone. He grew up in Kent where he sang with the National Youth Choir before moving on to the Queen's College, Oxford to study for an a BA and MSt in Musicology and to sing as a lay clerk with the College Choir. He has sung as soloist on a number of recordings and broadcasts, including a 2007 performance on BBC Radio 3 as a cantor for a programme of renaissance Portuguese sacred works. His most recent solo recordings include Caeli Porta (Guild Records) with the Queen's College Choir and a forthcoming disc of works by the contemporary composer Phillip Moore (Delphian Records).
As as choral singer Jonathan performed on ITV1 Television for HRH the Prince of Wales in a celebration for his 60th birthday on 15th November 2008. He works with a variety of sacred and secular ensembles in the United Kingdom such as St. Paul's Cathedral Choir and the Choir of the Chapel of St. George, Windsor Castle.
Over the past 5 years he has worked with a number of renowned conductors and coaches including Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Christopher Cowell, James Gilchrist and Graham Johnson. Jonathan has sung as a soloist with a variety of British choral societies including the Tonbridge Philharmonic, the Chelmsford Singers and the Witham Singers. He is currently studying voice with Nicholas Powell and Russell Smythe (Royal College of Music), and holds a choral scholarship at Wells Cathedral.

Steven Martin has been Director of Music at Crediton Parish Church since April 2008. Prior to returning to Crediton—where he was previously organ scholar and assistant organist—Steven was for three years Director of Music at St Michael and All Angels, Mount Dinham, Exeter, and a Bass Choral Scholar at Exeter Cathedral.
Steven has recently completed his studies at the University of Bristol and has just handed in his PhD thesis, the subject of which is late-nineteenth/early-twentieth century British opera. During his time as a student at the University of Exeter, Steven was an organ scholar at the University’s Chapel and directed the Exeter University Choral Society (from 2004–2008) and University Singers (2002–2004). Alongside his work at Crediton, Steven currently directs the Taunton-based chamber choir In Ecclesia.
His organ teachers have included Ron Downs, Dr Lorna Cowdry and Paul Morgan. Steven was awarded his LRSM in organ performance in 2003. He has given numerous organ recitals in and around Devon and Dorset, as well as Fulda (Germany) and Paris.
When not shaking his fists at some choir or other, or wondering why Stanford’s operas are so seldom performed these days, Steven is usually to be found in a comfortable chair, asleep under a newspaper, a cold cup of tea at his elbow…
'A truly memorable evening' was a comment overheard as I left the concert given by the Winkleigh Singers. It was held at the parish church in Torrington to an appreciative audience.
The first half of the evening was devoted to English composers from 1816 onwards with a well chosen, varied programme in praise of God and ending with the Magnificat by Stanford.
The Crucifixion by John Stainer in the second half was beautifully sung by the choir, with tenor Mark Hounsell and bass Jonathan Wagstaff creating a marvellous atmosphere with reverence.
Steven Martin made full use of the magnificent organ creating wonderful sounds enhancing the choir and soloists. Full credit must go to Roland Smith for inspiring such high quality singing and musical blending all together of choir, soloists and organ to produce a fine performance.
Barbara Pears, North Devon Journal, Thursday 8th April 2010