Artists-in-Residence
In October 2024 St Martin's Voices were pleased to announce the appointment of their first Artist-in-Residence, Imogen Whitehead.
Former Official Royal Harpist (2019-2024), Alis Huws is a freelance soloist, orchestral and chamber
musician. She regularly gives recitals across the UK and internationally, having performed at
prestigious venues worldwide. Her latest EP with Decca Classics, Cosy Nights by the Fire is out
now on all streaming platforms.
Named on Classic FM’s 30 under 30 Rising Stars list for 2024, some recent highlights include
appearing as a soloist with the Philharmonia Orchestra at Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall
and recording on the Gramophone Award Nominated album - Britten’s Canticles - with tenor
James Way. As a champion of living composers, she is excited to collaborate with composer
Cameron Biles-Liddell on a new harp concerto which will
premiere with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 2026.
Alis was privileged to perform at His Majesty King Charles III’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey. She performed Sir Karl Jenkins’ arrangement of Tros y Garreg (Crossing the Stone) for solo harp and strings, as well as being a part of the prestigious Coronation Orchestra, formed specially for the occasion.
Alis is passionate about bringing music into communities, and gives regular interactive concerts for people living with dementia as well as working with children with additional needs, and currently holds a weekly residency at a SEND school. Alis was made an Honorary Associate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, her alma
mater in 2022. She started harp lessons with Ieuan Jones, and went on to study with Caryl Thomas for her Bachelor and Master’s degrees. A multi-prize winning student at RWCMD, her studies were generously supported by the Tillett Trust, The Biddy Baxter and John Hosier Trust, the Arts Council of Wales, the EMI Sound Foundation and a Help Musicians UK Postgraduate Award.
In October 2024 St Martin's Voices were pleased to announce the appointment of their first Artist-in-Residence, Imogen Whitehead.
Imogen Whitehead is a trumpeter in demand across the UK and abroad. Alongside her position as
Principal Trumpet with Britten Sinfonia, Imogen regularly performs as guest Principal Trumpet with
the London Symphony Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, and English National Opera. As a soloist, Imogen has premiered numerous works including Stephen Dodgson’s Trumpet Concerto and Trinculo by Sally Beamish, commissioned for her by the Park Lane Group. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, Imogen studied privately in Oslo with renowned Norwegian soloist Tine Thing Helseth thanks to funding from the Royal Philharmonic Society. In early 2025 Imogen will be releasing an online solo album, recorded alongside Britten Sinfonia and pianist Jennifer Walsh, featuring works for trumpet and flugelhorn by contemporary British composers. Imogen is a particular champion of the flugelhorn – an instrument often overlooked in the classical sphere – and is committed to raising its solo profile through new commissions and arrangements.
Performance with St Martin's Voices in 2024/25
In Remembrance
Tuesday 12 November at 7.00pm, St Martin-in-the-Fields
Imogen Whitehead (trumpet); St Martin’s Voices; Andrew Earis (conductor)
A concert of contemporary choral music for the season of Remembrance, including works by John
Rutter, Cecilia McDowall and Lucy Walker.
Sally Beamish – First Peace
Lucy Walker – There will come soft rains (World premiere)
Geoffrey Burgon – At the round earth’s imagined corners
Cecilia McDowall – Angel of the Battlefield (London premiere)
Barry Mills – Questioning the Stars
Eleanor Daley – Requiem
John Rutter – Lord, thou hast been our refuge
The Trumpet Sounds
Tuesday 25 March at 7.00pm, St Martin-in-the-Fields
Imogen Whitehead (trumpet); St Martin’s Voices; Andrew Earis (conductor)
A concert exploring a rich range of sonic textures of music for trumpet and choir, from the
celebratory to the contemplative, including works by Cecilia McDowall, Colin Mawby and Gabriel
Jackson.
Cecilia McDowall – Psalm 65
Colin Mawby – Te Deum
Gabriel Jackson – The Spacious Firmament on High 2
Tõnu Kõrvits – Peegeldused tasasest maast (Reflections from a Plain)
Ian Coleman – The Trumpet Sounds Within-a My Soul
Heaven and Earth
Tuesday 10 June 2025 at 7.00pm, St Martin-in-the-Fields
Imogen Whitehead (trumpet); St Martin’s Voices; Andrew Earis (conductor)
Music for choir and trumpet, journeying from the earthly joys found in the English countryside to the
celestial splendours of heaven.
Phillip Cooke – Invocation
Shruthi Rajasekar – Green Fingers
Reena Esmail – Even after all this time
David Bednall – I was glad and I saw a new heaven
Emily Hazrati – The World Turns (first performance)
Cecilia McDowall – Light Eternal
James MacMillan – In splendoribus sanctorum from ‘The Strathclyde Motets’
Jonathan Dove – Oh this wondrous sea