In the spirit of the Lenten and Easter season, The Cantata Series is proud to present the world premiere of a new composition by young, London-based composer, Joshua Taylor. The Cantata comprises 5 movements, each of which features a different section of Psalm 130 -- A Song of Ascents, and will be performed by Ensemble Sprezzatura. Movements 2 & 3 for solo soprano will be performed by Lucy Harris, who has been a soloist at the Royal Albert Hall.

The program will also feature a Bach aria as well as a special arrangement of Lord of the Dance, and will conclude with a reception to celebrate the debut of the new composition.

The Cantata Series is generously supported by Scobie D. Ward and all ticket sales benefit St. Cecilia's Hall.

Ensemble Sprezzatura Artist Biographies

Josh Taylor is a baritone and composer whose past operatic performances include the role of Caspar in Der Freischutz and Massenet's Manon Lescaut. Having been trained as a chorister for 4 years, he has perviously sung at St. Martin in the Fields and currently sings in a number of London-based choirs. Recently, he has been engaged in singing a number of Bach's Cantatas in London, Winchester and Leipzig - including the B Minor Mass and Christmas Oratorio. A classically trained violinist, he studied history at university before going on to work in maritime security and energy. He currently spends his free time singing and composing choral music.

Lucy Harris, soprano, has a BMus from City University under the guidance of Guildhall School of Music teachers Sarah Pring and Katie Grossett. At age 17, she debuted the lead role in Anna Meredith’s opera “Tarantula in Petrol Blue” at Snape Maltings in Suffolk. Having performed various roles as part of the City Opera Ensemble and part of the City University Choir, Lucy went on to perform as solo soprano in The John Lewis Partnership 150 years concert at the Royal Albert Hall. She sung first soprano for Verdi’s Requiem at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square with full orchestra. She now works as a Political Consultant in London.

Dr Charlotte Thun-Hohenstein is a classically trained mezzo. Her profesional performance credits include New York’s Off-Broadway and cabaret venues, Houston’s Jones Hall, and churches across the UK and USA. She is the creator and writer of ‘Checkpoint Charlie’s State of Affairs’, a burlesque cabaret about Marxist world history, and she continues to write songs and screenplays. She holds a PhD in History from Stanford University.

Dr Lola Salem was a professional child singer at the Maitrise de Radio France, and continued singing in Oxonian chapels alongside her PhD. Her musicological research, started at the École Normale Supérieure, focuses on 17th-century opera, singers, patronage and cultural politics. She is currently a writer, consultant and fundraiser active in the realms of education, culture, and the arts.

Andre Holmqvist, tenor, sung with the Renaissance Singers at the University of St Andrews, and with the Wadham College Choir at the University of Oxford. After having worked with architecture exhibitions and installations, André now works as a historic buildings consultant on restoration projects.

Zi Ken Toh, harpsichord, obtained his Grade 8 Organ in 2018, under the tutelage of Jonathan Bunney BMus (Hons), MMus, FRCO. While living in Singapore, he studied under Dr. Evelyn Lim DMA. From 2008-2014 he was a regular organist at Kampong Kapor Methodist Church. He takes services at various churches, including St Margaret Pattens, the Charterhouse Chapel, St Mary’s, Bulwell, and St Giles-in-the-Fields, where he worships and is also in the choir. Zi Ken completed his architectural studies at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, obtaining the AA Diploma in 2020. He has a keen interest in classical architecture, and has attended the Englesberg Summer School in Classical Architecture organized by INTBAU, and currently works in a firm specializing in traditional and classical architecture. He is also an active member of the Georgian Group, Victorian Society and the Traditional Architecture Group. Aside from architecture, he has a keen interest in classical music, playing the organ and harpsichord, and singing with various choirs both secular and sacred. He performed at the premiere of the Cantata Series in November 2024.

Kelly Chen, flautist, was a competitive pianist in the US, as well as a flutist in various ensembles playing in venues such as Avery Fisher Hall in NY’s Lincoln Center. Nowadays, Kelly lives in London and runs the largest deep tech investment fund in Europe. Prior she was a bond trader on Wall Street. In her free time, she enjoys being on the ocean, diving, sailing, or efoiling.

Jodi Yang is a classically trained violinist who performed at Carnegie Hall when she was 18. She holds a B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) and an

M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and is currently Head of Capital Formation for Red Tree Ventures. She served as a partner for B Capital, Balderton, and March Capital.

Ursula Williams, cellist, teaches the cello in Nottingham.