Scholars
In September 2013, a new Scholarship scheme began at St John's under the leadership of our Director of Music. Four Choral Scholars (SATB) and an Organ Scholar now take part in most of the Sunday services, and at Choral Evensong, usually on the first Sunday of each month (please see the Services and Music page for more information).
Our current Scholars are:
Billie Robson - Soprano
Simone Jonetsu Ibbett - Brown- Alto
Francis Melville - Tenor
Jake Moffett - Bass
We currently seek an Organ Scholar
Biography information for them can be found below.
Our Scholars are available for private tuition - please be in touch with the Parish Office for more information.
If you would like to be considered for the Scholarship scheme, or if you would like to be added to our dep list, please contact the Parish Office on:
officemanager@stjohnsnottingill.com
Billie Robson - Soprano
Billie Robson first started singing in the choir of Norwich Cathedral before taking up a choral scholarship at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where she read Music. During her time there she took part in several major performances with the university's Opera Society, including roles in Mozart's Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute, as well as many concerts of contemporary music. A personal highlight was performing sprechstimme lieder commissioned for Robin Holloway's 70th birthday. Since graduation, she has worked as a freelance singer in Paris, the Far East and the UK. Billie is also Children’s music co-ordinator for St John’s.
Billie Robson - Soprano
Jake Muffett – Bass
23-year-old baritone graduated from the University of York with a BA (Hons) in Music and holds a Licentiateship with the Royal Schools of Music in vocal performance. Roles of note include Count Almaviva (Nozze), Don Giovanni and Sid in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring. Jake is currently studying on the Artist Masters course in vocal performance at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where he receives vocal tuition from John Evans. Having recently completed his apprenticeship with The Monteverdi Choir he is now a full member and sings with the choir regularly in concerts across Europe and America. As well as a singer Jake is a keen Clarinettist and has played with a variety of amateur/semi-professional orchestras and ensembles as well as running his own Wind-Chamber Ensemble the York Wind Soloists. Jake still occasionally appears in instrumental concerts in London as well as Musical Theatre productions playing Clarinets, Saxes, Flute and Oboe.
Jake Muffett - Bass
Francis is in his third third year of medical school at imperial college London and takes an active role in the musical scene there, singing with the chamber choir and playing viola in the symphony orchestra. He trained at the Royal College of Music junior department for several years and is currently part of the Rodolfus choir.
Francis Melville - Tenor
Simone Jonetsu Ibbett- Brown - Alto
Simone is a freelance mezzo-soprano and director of music theatre, as well as the administrator for the national theatre of new plays, Paines Plough. She currently studies voice with Benjamin Williamson and coach Philip Headlam.
She read Music at the University of York, graduating with a first class BA Hons in 2014. Since then she has sung in the chorus and worked as a stage director with several opera companies including Opéra de Baugé, Hampstead Garden Opera, and Harrow Opera. Previous choral experience includes with Blossom Street; Heath Street Baptist Church, Hampstead; and as a John Ireland Scholar with Sloane Square Choral Society.
Simone has a passion for music making in a variety of genres and enjoys singing with contemporary music group Vox London Collective and the BBC Folk Award-winning Roundhouse Choir, with whom she has performed with artists such as Jamie Cullum, Camille O'Sullivan and Sam Lee.