Biography
Jocelyn Somerville has been pursuing a singing career since starting her formal musical training. She gained her MMUS (with Merit) at Royal Holloway with one of the highest marks in the year for her recital. She completed a 2:1 in her first degree of Music with English at Cardiff University, where she received the Sir Geraint Evans award for her final recital and gained the highest mark in her year. Other projects have included a Master class series in Ischia at the William Walton Foundation in 2007, and went to Nice to take part in the Academie Internationale d'Ete de Nice under the aegis of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2006. She took part in the Dorset Opera Summer School in 2006 and more recently, was a member of the Welsh National Youth Opera, and their summer production of The Calling of Maisy Day in 2008. She is studying singing with Elizabeth Ritchie at the Royal Academy of Music, and has been lucky enough to be advised by Emma Kirkby, who recommended Jocelyn to Howard Williams' choir, the Choir of the 21st Century. She is also a member of The English Baroque Choir under the direction of Jeremy Jackman, and made it through to the Hampshire Singer of the Year Semi Finals. More recently she has been involved with various recordings with the Vasari Singers as a choir member and soloist, including some Gabriel Jackson and Francis Pott pieces, which will be out later this year. She is building up a portfolio of public performances all round the country, and has recently returned from a tour in Italy, where her performance of the soprano solo in Allegri's Miserere was hailed as stunningly beautiful.
Testimonials
"Jocelyn Somerville’s task in de Padilla’s Litaniae de B.V.M. was somewhat unusual. There were no long phrases here to get one’s larynx into : rather a versicle- (solo) and- response (choir) format that provided a real test of musicianship. Jocelyn passed with flying colours. She sang with style, composure, flawless intonation and delicate phrasing." Jeremy Jackman, Musical Director, English Baroque Choir 13/07/11
Jocelyn's singing of the challenging soprano solos from Gabriel Jackson's Requiem was exemplary and brought to the performance a radiance and beauty that was matched only by the confidence and (apparent!) ease with which she sang. In the glorious acoustic of Douai Abbey, her voice soared effortlessly above the voices of the Vasari Singers and combined to create some moments of real musical magic." Jeremy Backhouse, Musical Director, Vasari Singers 04/11/10
"Jocelyn has sung for my choirs on three occasions now. The first time was for Formby Choral Society, when she sang the soprano solos in John Rutter's Requiem. Her clear, bright tone was perfect for the music, and floated high and clear about the choral textures. Subsequently she sang the solos in Messiah for Birkenhead Choral Society when they put on a charity "Scratch Messiah". She willing agreed to my request that she sing the 12/8 version of Rejoice greatly, and it was simply stunning. I know that my Redeemer was just beautiful. The third performance was in Rutter's Requiem, but this time with Birkenhead Choral Society, where Jocelyn once again "wowed" the audience and choir alike with her exquisite singing. From a conductor's point of view, she is a delight to work with, so unassuming, modest, adaptable and utterly reliable. I am looking forward to her Creation for Formby in May 2010." David Holroyd, Musical Director of Birkenhead Choral Society, Formby CHoral Society, and Director of Music at Merchant Taylors' School.
"Jocelyn Somerville's clear soprano voice was outstanding. Her beautiful tone seemed effortless in sustaining the high B flat in the 'Lux Aeterna'. In the 'Pie Jesu' her sensitive phrasing coupled with her ability to sing with an unusually pure tone was delightful, and mirrored the sentiment of the words beautifully." David Barker, Director of Music, The Parish Church of St. Anne, Kew 16/07/09
"Jocelyn was a delight to work with. She was both professional and approachable in the lead up to the concert, and on the concert day itself. Her beautiful, pure singing had the audience and the choir spellbound and I would have no hesitation using her in the future, or recommending her to anyone looking for a soprano soloist." Robyn Sevastos, Musical Director of The Bromley Philharmonic Choir, 10/11/09
"Jocelyn Somerville is a young lyric soprano of real and obvious potential, with a fresh yet flexible production, excellent if still evolving quality throughout the range, and a warm and engaging platform presence. Her singing of Despina's "Una donna a quindici anni" (in her university finals recital) suggested that she also has a distinct future as a soubrette-cum-lyric soprano in opera. In everything she does she shows musical and psychological intelligence. She is a young singer to watch." Professor Stephen Walsh, Music critic and Music Professor at Cardiff University. 07/09/2007
"One of the nicest performances I've ever heard (and I've heard a lot!) of the Rutter Pie Jesu - and dealt magnificently with the challenging last note. What lovely singing! Bravo!" Murray Somerville Ex-Chair of Organ Music at Harvard 15/09/09
Links:
http://blogsbeginat50.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/a-voice-in-the-church-is-this-the-x-factor/