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Gillian Wormley predominantly works as a professional freelance soprano and recitalist, private singing teacher and vocal coach.

Gillian first began taking singing lessons at the age of 11. She won many trophies at local competitive festivals with distinction and honours and sang for prestigious adjudicators such as Isobel Baillie, Constance Shacklock, Lionel Salter, Maurice Jacobson and Michael Head.

ImageAt age 19, she was offered a place at Dartington College of Arts to study voice, pianoforte and dance in an educational context and was awarded her Diploma of Music in Education in 1978. Dartington has continued to play a vital role in every aspect of Gillian’s professional career.

Post graduation, Gillian was based in Nottingham and sang with what was then the English Sinfonia Chorale. She performed solos on BBC radio broadcasts and in frequent live concerts, including the role of 'Freya' in Ed Welch's setting of The Snow Goose, directed by Christopher Adey. Gillian pursued her vocal education with Lynne Wayman, who in turn introduced her to the renowned Ilse Wolf with whom Gillian studied vocal technique until 1985. During this time, Gillian was sang with the Hillside Opera Workshop, and undertook roles such as 'Susanna' (Marriage of Figaro) directed by Christopher Webber, 'Fiordiligi' (Cosi fan Tutte), 'Polly' (The Beggar's Opera), 'Magda' (The Consul), 'Louise' (Louise) and 'Pamina' (The Magic Flute) directed by Andrew Wickes.

ImageIn 1988, Gillian met her present vocal coach and now recital accompanist, David Harper at the Summer Music Summer School. David coaches and accompanies many highly renowned international singers both in the studio, in recital and on CD.

In addition to her private vocal tuition practice, Gillian worked in Adult Education for  Hampshire County Council from 1990 to 1998, successfully establishing singers'workshops at Eastleigh College and Fareham Tertiary College.  As a natural succession, ‘Class Apart’ and ‘Quorum’ were founded in 1998 and 2001 respectively, as choral and solo performance groups for local singers.  Most recently Gillian has founded 'A Company of Singers' who will make their debut performance in January 2010.

Gillian has performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe : divas 2in 2000, as 'Gwyneth' with Definitely Divas in the commissioned music theatre piece Lunch At The Cooked Goose , composed by Betty Roe with libretto by Marian Lines and directed by Robin Martin-Oliver. The quartet played to full houses and received excellent reviews, and in 2001 Gillian returned to the Fringe with Divas 2 in Let's Kick Mrs. Worthington . Again scripted by librettist Marian Lines, the storyline wove around songs by Cole Porter and Noel Coward - the show was a sell-out success. Future plans include a return to the Fringe with a solo production, Metamorphosis.

However, Gillian remains devoted to classical music and has since 1995 performed in a number of recitals with her vocal coach and friend, David Harper; most notably in 2001, with A Celebration for Alice ; in 2002, with the classical Recital; in November 2005, with Women and Love and in May 2009, with guest soprano Kate Macoboy and 'Renaissance Woman'.

 

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Name
Gillian Wormley

Address
18 Eydon Close
Rugby
CV21 1TL

Contact
07792 328164

e-mail
Email Gillian