Sian Pearce has had a lifetime's involvement in music. She is no stranger to the spotlight as she has performed on TV & Radio, & toured extensively around the world, performing as soloist, chorister & conductor; to audiences from a few through to many thousands. Born & raised in Risca in the Welsh Valleys, choral singing has been Sian's passion from an early age. There has never been a time when she has not been involved, in one way or another with a choir. At 16 she was a member of the National Youth Choir of Wales and the youngest founder member in the BBC National Chorus of Wales, gaining an interest in choral conducting by singing under the baton of such prestigious conductors such as Sir Neville Mariner and Andrew Davies.
Sian gained her vocal training by studying under such teachers as Jennifer Rhys Davies and Beverley Humphries. She went on to study classical singing and flute at Trinity College of Music, London studying under the great James Gaddarn. Following her studies, Sian performed extensively as a Classical Solo Singer, but was also invited to share her teaching talents with others. She became the Community Musician for Penrhys Estate, Rhondda where she set up youth & adult choirs, rock bands and helped in the design & development of the building of a new Arts Centre & Recording Studio, which now brings quality musicians to a once deprived community. Sian has also conducted many youth and adult choirs, including The Continentals ( a gospel touring choir & band) with whom she was responsible for the vocal training of the carefully selected singers from all over Europe, on tours around the world.
For nearly 3 years Sian was the 1st female Musical Director of The Morriston Orpheus Male Voice Choir, conducting them in over 77 engagements, including performances at Wales’ Millennium Centre & Sydney Opera House. She also toured Australia, New Zealand & Dubai and made a CD recording with The Orpheus. As a Full-Time Professional Singing Teacher she currently has around 30 individual singing pupils, is the recognised Singing Teacher in South West Wales for the government initiative New Deal for Musicians, & also shares her vocal expertise with various Musical Theatre Arts Schools. Sian also co-owns her own business SingingTune, providing vocal workshops and choral teambuilding events for businesses. Visit the SingingTune website - www.singingtune.co.uk
Accompanist
Richard John BMus(Hons)
Born in Neath in 1981, Richard began playing the piano in 1993. From 1996 to 2000 he studied with Miss Mary Rees (formerly Head of Piano at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama). He furthered his studies in 2000 at the Royal College of Music, London, studying piano with Yonty Solomon and composition with Edwin Roxburgh and Kenneth Hesketh. He graduated from the RCM in July 2004.
Richard has performed extensively at a range of venues including Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Chipping Campden Music Festival, Cheltenham Town Hall, Salisbury City Hall, Buckingham Palace and at Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
He has made several television appearances and has worked with a wide variety of performers including Isla St. Clair, Max Bygraves and Geri Halliwell.
In demand as an accompanist and a conductor for concerts, competitions and theatrical productions as well as private piano tuition, Richard is currently Musical Director of Gyrlais Male Choir and Accompanist to Morriston Phoenix Choir.
Richard’s compositional output consists of solo, ensemble, vocal and choral works.
He is represented by Composers of Wales/Cyfansoddwyr Cymru, a professional organisation based at Wales’ Millennium Centre, which promotes his music.
