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Emma Pooley
Soprano

Emma Pooley was born in 1973. She was educated at Hereford Cathedral school where she studied singing with Henry Cummings and John Mitchinson. She went on to read music at Royal Holloway College, University of London studying singing with Wynford Evans.  Emma held a Choral Scholarship here, was awarded the Edward and Florence James prize for academic excellence and graduated with First Class Honours.  In 1995 she was awarded a British Academy Scholarship to study for a Master's degree in Music Theory and Analysis at King's College, London.  Emma has sung with London Voices, directed by Terry Edwards, the vocal ensemble Ottovoce, and a number of professional London church choirs. As a member of The Pinewood Singers she has sung on a number of recordings for film soundtracks and computer games including the latest Harry Potter game.

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Gemma Fowkes
Mezzo Soprano
and Trumpet

Gemma Fowkes studied music at King's College, London, then graduated with an MA in Musicology from Southampton. She currently organises all competitions and a weekly series of chamber music concerts at the Royal Academy of Music. Gemma began playing the trumpet at the age of 11 and has performed with many orchestras including the Ealing Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Chamber Orchestra, University of London Orchestra, and Berkshire Youth Orchestras, performing at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and St John's, Smith Square.

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Stephen Holmes
Piano

Stephen Holmes started studying the organ with William Nutter at Rochdale Parish Church at the age of 14. His first appointment as organist was In 1968 he went up to Brasenose College, Oxford to read Engineering Science. For many years he sang with the Oxford Bach Choir and the Oxford Harmonic Society. In 1975 he was awarded a D.Phil. for his research into the electron microscopy of metallic defects. In 1979 he left Oxford to pursue a career writing computer systems software and moved to Bracknell. From 1980 to 1983 he was the organist of All Souls' Church, South Ascot. In 1981 he accompanied the Southern Chamber Choir on their European tour and gave a recital in Gibraltar cathedral.

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Susan Holmes
Mezzo Soprano
and Piano

Susan Holmes, daughter of Stephen, was born in 1990 and started playing the piano at the age of 8. She currently studies with Audrey Harington Hawes and passed Grade 8 two years ago. She also studies the violin at Newbury Music Centre with Jonathan Burnett and is a member of the West Berkshire String Orchestra. She has recently received a County silver award for the violin.  Susan attends St. Bartholomew's School in Newbury where she has played in many services and concerts. She also accompanied the Evers House Choir when they won this year's House Music choir competition and her playing was commended by the adjudicator. Susan has performed piano duets and solo recitals at music festivals and was recently asked to step in at the last minute as a pianist

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Tessa Huyshe
Mezzo Soprano

Tessa Huyshe has only recently moved to East Garston. She sang and played 'cello at school in Bath, taking part in the Mid-Somerset Competitive Festival and other local events. Living and working in London put paid to the cello playing, but she continued her choral singing with the London Choral Society, enjoying the main choral repertoire in the major concert halls with first rate orchestras and soloists.  Simon Rattle was principle conductor of the choir at the time, so they also performed contemporary works with the London Sinfonietta. One highlight was singing the European Premiere of Voices of Sleep by British composer Paul Patterson at the proms in the Royal Albert Hall.

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Susie Burdett
Soprano

Susie Burdett, having decided the violin was not for her, played the flute and sang at West Berkshire Music centre' singing and performing with many of the bands and choirs there. Outside of the Music Centre, Susie was very much involved with music at school, taking part in many of St. Bartholomew's School concerts, and leading Davis House Choir as Music Captain in 1999. After school, and despite not being able to either act or dance. Susie joined the Newbury Operatic Society in their Production of My Fair Lady at the Newbury Corn Exchange, and enjoyed the experience so much that at University she joined the Sussex university MUsical Theatre Society (SMUTS) in their production of Guys and Dolls at the Gardner Arts Center, Falmer.

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Sally Wright
Trainer-Youth Drama Groups

Sally Wright developed a passion for theatre in her teens. She won a public speaking prize at school and participated in various productions including playing a Woman of Canterbury in TS Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral. She continued her involvement in drama in her 20's and 30's playing a range of roles in amateur productions from Lizzie in Richard Nash's The Rainmaker to Principal Boy and girl roles in panto. She enjoyed in particular, training youth drama groups and choreographing chorus routines in various shows with both children and adults, During the last year in East Garston there have been opportunities in the Church for her to return again to the role that she loves best - the coaching and training of young people.