Meet the Team
Woodwind: Richard Tattam
Richard began learning the Bassoon at the age of 11 with Merle Calderbank through Sandwell Youth Music. Following these studies, he gained a four year scholarship to study at the Birmingham Conservatoire in 2003. During his time at the Conservatoire, Richard studied under Maria Mealey, Margaret Cookhorn, Meyrick Alexander and Nick Hunka whilst undertaking masterclasses with John Orford and Gareth Newman. Richard was a three time finalist in the Sylvia Cleaver Chamber Music prize and was part of several Symphony Orchestra concerts. Whilst gaining a 2:1 BMus(Hons) degree, Richard was also part of the CBSO Youth Orchestra, and took part in the CBSO ‘Igor Fest’ in 2006. He continued studies at the Royal Northern College of Music the following year, gaining a PgDip in Performance in 2008, studying with Laurence Perkins and Stefano Canuti, reaching the final of the Woodwind Prize.
Voice: Chris Passey
Chris was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in April 2016, admitted as a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching in January 2023 and made a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute in June 2023.
Chris is co-musical director of Birmingham Voices, a professional choir that has toured the UK with Josh Groban, Russell Watson and works regularly with BBC Songs of Praise. 2019 saw the choir on the road again with Russell Watson after an appearance at the London
Palladium and Christmas as the Barbican with the LSO.
Chris’s debut album, released in November 2011, ‘Self Taught; Still Learning’ achieved critical acclaim, entering the Amazon Broadway charts at #2, becoming a Best Seller at Dress Circle and leading to a sell out concerts in Leicester Square Theatre on 22nd January
2012 and again at The Union Theatre in March 2019.
Chris was a finalist in the inaugural Craig Barbour Award for Composition and was‘Highly Commended’ in the Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Prize 2012 & a finalist in 2014. As Head of The Musical Theatre Institute (TMTI), Chris ensures professional performing arts training to young people across the West Midlands by providing low-cost workshops with industry experts, weekly classes and the chance to apply for funding from the BITA Foundation to help with audition fees and courses. Their productions, including Jesus Chris Superstar at The Old Rep, have gathered five-star critical acclaim to sell out audiences.
Richard began learning the Bassoon at the age of 11 with Merle Calderbank through Sandwell Youth Music. Following these studies, he gained a four year scholarship to study at the Birmingham Conservatoire in 2003. During his time at the Conservatoire, Richard studied under Maria Mealey, Margaret Cookhorn, Meyrick Alexander and Nick Hunka whilst undertaking masterclasses with John Orford and Gareth Newman. Richard was a three time finalist in the Sylvia Cleaver Chamber Music prize and was part of several Symphony Orchestra concerts. Whilst gaining a 2:1 BMus(Hons) degree, Richard was also part of the CBSO Youth Orchestra, and took part in the CBSO ‘Igor Fest’ in 2006. He continued studies at the Royal Northern College of Music the following year, gaining a PgDip in Performance in 2008, studying with Laurence Perkins and Stefano Canuti, reaching the final of the Woodwind Prize.
Voice: Chris Passey
Chris was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in April 2016, admitted as a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching in January 2023 and made a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute in June 2023.
Chris is co-musical director of Birmingham Voices, a professional choir that has toured the UK with Josh Groban, Russell Watson and works regularly with BBC Songs of Praise. 2019 saw the choir on the road again with Russell Watson after an appearance at the London
Palladium and Christmas as the Barbican with the LSO.
Chris’s debut album, released in November 2011, ‘Self Taught; Still Learning’ achieved critical acclaim, entering the Amazon Broadway charts at #2, becoming a Best Seller at Dress Circle and leading to a sell out concerts in Leicester Square Theatre on 22nd January
2012 and again at The Union Theatre in March 2019.
Chris was a finalist in the inaugural Craig Barbour Award for Composition and was‘Highly Commended’ in the Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Prize 2012 & a finalist in 2014. As Head of The Musical Theatre Institute (TMTI), Chris ensures professional performing arts training to young people across the West Midlands by providing low-cost workshops with industry experts, weekly classes and the chance to apply for funding from the BITA Foundation to help with audition fees and courses. Their productions, including Jesus Chris Superstar at The Old Rep, have gathered five-star critical acclaim to sell out audiences.
FINAL:
DR. RICHARD JENKINSON
Richard Jenkinson started to play the cello at the age of five and after winning a scholarship from Derbyshire County Council studied with Florence Hooton, William Pleeth and Raphael Wallfisch. He was awarded a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where he won all the cello and chamber music prizes and in 1994 after a performance of the Dvorak Concerto in the Barbican he was awarded the coveted Gold Medal. After awards from the Maisie Lewis, Countess of Munster and the Martin Trust he studied abroad in the U.S. with Aldo Parisot and Josef Feigelson. In the autumn of 1994, Richard was awarded a top prize in the Vittorio Gui Chamber Music Competition in Florence, Italy and made his first commercial recording of the Complete Sonatas and Variations by Martinu. Richard has played concertos with many orchestras including the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra (Dvorak in Caracas), BBC Concert Orchestra (Beethoven Triple live on BBC Radio), CBSO, and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. He also collaborates with many amateur and semi-professional orchestras with recent recent performances this year including Shostakovich 1st Concerto, Dvorak (Queen Elizabeth Hall, London), Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations and Pezzo Capriccioso and the Elgar Concerto.
In 1995 Richard was appointed Principal Cello with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and during his three years with the orchestra performed as soloist, made several recordings and appeared on Irish Radio and television. In 1998 he was appointed as Principal 'cello by Sir Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and since this time has been guest principal with the BBC Scottish, Halle, Northern Sinfonia, Philharmonia, Orchestra of the Swan and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras. He is also a regular member of the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.
Richard is a keen chamber musician and plays regularly in a duo with the pianist Benjamin Frith. Recitals have included London's Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room as well as performances around the country. They have also appeared live on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. In 2001 Richard founded the Innovation Chamber Ensemble (with other CBSO colleagues) and their performances together have included Wigmore Hall, Canterbury Cathedral, the Buxton, Fishguard, Petworth and Newbury Festivals and several live Radio broadcasts on BBC Radio 3. I.C.E. has also made several recording, their first disc was Classic F.M.'s CD of the week and a new disc on the Somm label will appear later this year.
Richard is a founder member of the Frith Piano Quartet and performs around twenty concerts per season with the Piano Quartet including performances at King's Place and St John's Smith Square in London and also given several performances for BBC Radio 3. The Frith Piano Quartet made a new recording of Quartets by Walton, Lekeu and Frank Bridge, which was released in 2011 on the Nimbus label, future concerts include the Wigmore Hall.
Richard has been fortunate enough to have conducting guidance from Ilan Volkov, Simon Halsey and the CBSO's Music Director Andres Nelsons. Recent conducting performances of ICE have included the chamber versions of Bruckner 7th Symphony (Deal & Birmingham), Strauss Metamorphosen, Mahler Das Lied von der Erde (Canterbury Cathedral) and Mahler's 4thSymphony (Buxton, Fishguard, Newbury and Petworth, Festivals, Birmingham and Shropshire). The group were invited back to Fishguard and Petworth Festivals in 2013 where they perform Bruckner's 7th with works by Wagner and Poulenc's Organ Concerto.
KEITH SLADE
Born in the West Midlands, Keith Slade began his musical journey learning the clarinet from the age of ten. After reaching the final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Woodwind Category, Keith graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music where he was awarded the Hilda Collens’ prize. He furthered his studies under the guidance of Angela Malsbury and Nicholas Rodwell on a postgraduate degree at the Royal l Academy of Music supported by the Countess of Munster Trust. At the RAM, Keith was awarded the Dorothy Grinstead Memorial Prize for the most outstanding postgraduate, the John Solomon Woodwind and Brass Prize and the Morgensterns’ Award.
Keith has extensive experience as an orchestral musician and has worked with orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the BBC Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Richard Hickox, Pierre Boulez and Andris Nelsons. He regularly tours with London Festival Opera which has taken him as far afield as Zimbabwe (HIFA Festival), Barbados (Holders’ Festival) and, most recently, La Fenice Opera House, Venice. As a soloist, Keith has performed concerti by Mozart, Finzi, Weber and Copland in venues throughout the UK.
Keith found his passion for conducting whilst studying at the RNCM, and in 2012 was selected to participate on the Colin Metters’ International Conducting Course. Recent appointments include Head of Wind and Brass at the Birmingham Conservatoire Junior School and Head of Woodwind at Oakham School. Keith has conducted the National Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, The British Police Symphony Orchestra, St Endellion Easter Festival Orchestra and the WorldCon Philharmonic Orchestra at London’s ExCeL Arena. Keith has worked with artists including James MacMillan, Mark Padmore, Roderick Williams and Sarah Fox.
In January 2010, Keith was appointed Music Director of the Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra where he has seen the ensemble grow from strength-to-strength; now with 65 regular members, the WSO performs several concerts each season and Keith is a regular guest on BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester promoting the orchestra and classical music amongst the local community. In 2014 WSO commissioned a new Children’s work in the style of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf entitled The Magic Bojabi Tree which was a huge success. In recognition of his services to WSO, Keith was honoured to be invited by Her Majesty the Queen to a private gathering to celebrate HRH’s Diamond Jubilee in Worcester.
ANNE BOLT - PIANO
Was born in Leicestershire and returned to live in her home village in 2001, having spent time living in London and the USA. In 1983 she won a music scholarship to Wells Cathedral School and followed this with a music degree at Christ Church, Oxford. She continued her piano studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Hilary Coates. A Fulbright Scholarship and an English Speaking Union Fellowship enabled her to continue her education in America at Indiana University, studying with Menahem Pressler (Beaux Arts Trio) and graduating with a Master of Music Degree.
A passionate teacher, Anne was appointed Head of Piano at Oakham School in 2007 and recently joined the staff at the Sheffield Music Academy. Alongside her teaching commitments, she keeps up her performing career together with being a mum to three children, all now at university. Anne has enjoyed collaborating with various musicians over the years, including putting on a concert series covering the complete Beethoven Violin Sonatas with Martin Cropper, as well as several piano trio concerts with Martin Cropper and Richard Jenkinson. She has recently performed Mozart’s D minor Concerto with the Rutland Sinfonia, as well as Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto, Chopin’s 1st Piano Concerto and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra.
DR. RICHARD JENKINSON
Richard Jenkinson started to play the cello at the age of five and after winning a scholarship from Derbyshire County Council studied with Florence Hooton, William Pleeth and Raphael Wallfisch. He was awarded a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where he won all the cello and chamber music prizes and in 1994 after a performance of the Dvorak Concerto in the Barbican he was awarded the coveted Gold Medal. After awards from the Maisie Lewis, Countess of Munster and the Martin Trust he studied abroad in the U.S. with Aldo Parisot and Josef Feigelson. In the autumn of 1994, Richard was awarded a top prize in the Vittorio Gui Chamber Music Competition in Florence, Italy and made his first commercial recording of the Complete Sonatas and Variations by Martinu. Richard has played concertos with many orchestras including the Venezuelan Symphony Orchestra (Dvorak in Caracas), BBC Concert Orchestra (Beethoven Triple live on BBC Radio), CBSO, and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. He also collaborates with many amateur and semi-professional orchestras with recent recent performances this year including Shostakovich 1st Concerto, Dvorak (Queen Elizabeth Hall, London), Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations and Pezzo Capriccioso and the Elgar Concerto.
In 1995 Richard was appointed Principal Cello with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and during his three years with the orchestra performed as soloist, made several recordings and appeared on Irish Radio and television. In 1998 he was appointed as Principal 'cello by Sir Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and since this time has been guest principal with the BBC Scottish, Halle, Northern Sinfonia, Philharmonia, Orchestra of the Swan and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras. He is also a regular member of the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.
Richard is a keen chamber musician and plays regularly in a duo with the pianist Benjamin Frith. Recitals have included London's Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room as well as performances around the country. They have also appeared live on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. In 2001 Richard founded the Innovation Chamber Ensemble (with other CBSO colleagues) and their performances together have included Wigmore Hall, Canterbury Cathedral, the Buxton, Fishguard, Petworth and Newbury Festivals and several live Radio broadcasts on BBC Radio 3. I.C.E. has also made several recording, their first disc was Classic F.M.'s CD of the week and a new disc on the Somm label will appear later this year.
Richard is a founder member of the Frith Piano Quartet and performs around twenty concerts per season with the Piano Quartet including performances at King's Place and St John's Smith Square in London and also given several performances for BBC Radio 3. The Frith Piano Quartet made a new recording of Quartets by Walton, Lekeu and Frank Bridge, which was released in 2011 on the Nimbus label, future concerts include the Wigmore Hall.
Richard has been fortunate enough to have conducting guidance from Ilan Volkov, Simon Halsey and the CBSO's Music Director Andres Nelsons. Recent conducting performances of ICE have included the chamber versions of Bruckner 7th Symphony (Deal & Birmingham), Strauss Metamorphosen, Mahler Das Lied von der Erde (Canterbury Cathedral) and Mahler's 4thSymphony (Buxton, Fishguard, Newbury and Petworth, Festivals, Birmingham and Shropshire). The group were invited back to Fishguard and Petworth Festivals in 2013 where they perform Bruckner's 7th with works by Wagner and Poulenc's Organ Concerto.
KEITH SLADE
Born in the West Midlands, Keith Slade began his musical journey learning the clarinet from the age of ten. After reaching the final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Woodwind Category, Keith graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music where he was awarded the Hilda Collens’ prize. He furthered his studies under the guidance of Angela Malsbury and Nicholas Rodwell on a postgraduate degree at the Royal l Academy of Music supported by the Countess of Munster Trust. At the RAM, Keith was awarded the Dorothy Grinstead Memorial Prize for the most outstanding postgraduate, the John Solomon Woodwind and Brass Prize and the Morgensterns’ Award.
Keith has extensive experience as an orchestral musician and has worked with orchestras including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the BBC Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Richard Hickox, Pierre Boulez and Andris Nelsons. He regularly tours with London Festival Opera which has taken him as far afield as Zimbabwe (HIFA Festival), Barbados (Holders’ Festival) and, most recently, La Fenice Opera House, Venice. As a soloist, Keith has performed concerti by Mozart, Finzi, Weber and Copland in venues throughout the UK.
Keith found his passion for conducting whilst studying at the RNCM, and in 2012 was selected to participate on the Colin Metters’ International Conducting Course. Recent appointments include Head of Wind and Brass at the Birmingham Conservatoire Junior School and Head of Woodwind at Oakham School. Keith has conducted the National Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, The British Police Symphony Orchestra, St Endellion Easter Festival Orchestra and the WorldCon Philharmonic Orchestra at London’s ExCeL Arena. Keith has worked with artists including James MacMillan, Mark Padmore, Roderick Williams and Sarah Fox.
In January 2010, Keith was appointed Music Director of the Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra where he has seen the ensemble grow from strength-to-strength; now with 65 regular members, the WSO performs several concerts each season and Keith is a regular guest on BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester promoting the orchestra and classical music amongst the local community. In 2014 WSO commissioned a new Children’s work in the style of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf entitled The Magic Bojabi Tree which was a huge success. In recognition of his services to WSO, Keith was honoured to be invited by Her Majesty the Queen to a private gathering to celebrate HRH’s Diamond Jubilee in Worcester.
ANNE BOLT - PIANO
Was born in Leicestershire and returned to live in her home village in 2001, having spent time living in London and the USA. In 1983 she won a music scholarship to Wells Cathedral School and followed this with a music degree at Christ Church, Oxford. She continued her piano studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Hilary Coates. A Fulbright Scholarship and an English Speaking Union Fellowship enabled her to continue her education in America at Indiana University, studying with Menahem Pressler (Beaux Arts Trio) and graduating with a Master of Music Degree.
A passionate teacher, Anne was appointed Head of Piano at Oakham School in 2007 and recently joined the staff at the Sheffield Music Academy. Alongside her teaching commitments, she keeps up her performing career together with being a mum to three children, all now at university. Anne has enjoyed collaborating with various musicians over the years, including putting on a concert series covering the complete Beethoven Violin Sonatas with Martin Cropper, as well as several piano trio concerts with Martin Cropper and Richard Jenkinson. She has recently performed Mozart’s D minor Concerto with the Rutland Sinfonia, as well as Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto, Chopin’s 1st Piano Concerto and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Worcestershire Symphony Orchestra.
