HeartEdge Manchester Choral Scholarships 2023-24
Applications for 2023-24 Choral Scholarships are now closed.
Please get in touch if you would like to be contacted when the next application process opens, or for deputising auditions and opportunities.
The HeartEdge Manchester Choral Scholarships 2023-24 are a programme of stimulating and educative choral training, working across churches in the Diocese of Manchester with the music team from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. The scheme is aimed at choral singers wishing to embark on a professional career in singing. The Choral Scholarships provide an opportunity for nine singers to enjoy an intensive, focused period of development alongside others of a similar standard and interests whilst building on a tradition of musical excellence in churches in the city centre and beyond.
The Choral Scholarships are part of a collaborative project between the Diocese of Manchester and the St Martin-in-the-Fields HeartEdge Network, supported by the Church of England Strategic Development Fund. The wider project involves a number of initiatives aimed at growing church, community, culture and social outreach in churches across Manchester. Music is at the heart of this through the development of a new church music programme involving choral education, community choirs and children’s music-making activity.
The Choral Scholarship programme is led by Andrew Earis, Director of Music at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Olivia Tait, St Martin’s Choral Conducting Fellow, alongside a range of guest directors and expert choral workshop leaders.
Please get in touch if you would like to be contacted when the next application process opens, or for deputising auditions and opportunities.
Meet the HeartEdge Manchester Choral Scholars 2022-23!
Clara Phelps – Soprano
Clara has recently graduated with a music degree from the University of York where she studied under Alex Ashworth. She has been a member of a number of vocal ensembles, including the National Youth Chamber Choir and York’s ‘The 24’. Clara is now working as part of the Development and Marketing team at RNCM and is looking forward to continuing singing as a HeartEdge choral scholar.
Emily Pratt – Soprano
Emily Pratt has just completed an MA in Music: Solo Voice Ensemble Singing with Robert
Hollingworth at the University of York. Her previous studies were at Dalhousie University in
Halifax, Canada, where she earned a BA First Class Hons. in Music and Theatre. In 2019,
Emily appeared with Halifax ensemble Xara Choral Theatre, who were chosen to perform at
the World Symposium of Choral Music 2020. She has spent the past year as a Choral
Scholar at the York Oratory, and currently sings with new Northern ensembles Æftersang
and Leodis Consort
Laura Crooks – Soprano
Laura Crooks is a soprano entering her second year of studying music at The University of Manchester. In her first year, she was a member of the universities premier auditioned chamber choir, Ad Solem, as well as a founding member of The Mancunium Consort. She has previously sung with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and as a Glyndebourne Junior Artist.
Lauren Spooner – Soprano
Lauren is a soprano from Berkshire, pursuing her passion for choral music alongside a degree in Mathematics and Philosophy at the University of Manchester. Lauren has sung in parish choirs since the age of six and particularly enjoys singing Evensong. Her membership of the RSCM’s Millennium Youth Choir has afforded her the opportunity to sing in a number of cathedrals across the country. She sang with and was the Soprano 1 Section Leader for Berkshire Youth Choir until Summer 2023.
Ruby Magee – Soprano
Ruby is a Scottish soprano currently in her fourth year at the RNCM, studying under the tutelage of Andrew Heggie. As a joint course student, she recently graduated from the University of Manchester with first-class honours. She regularly sings with Somnium Chamber Choir and the Manchester Oratory Choir. Before moving to Manchester, she performed with several ensembles including the Scottish Opera Young Company and the National Youth Choir of Scotland.
Toluwani Idowu – Alto
Toluwani is an alto from Scotland, currently in her 3rd year of study at the University of Manchester and was a member of last year’s HeartEdge cohort. She was the Alto soloist for the University’s performance of Tippet’s ‘A Child of Our Time’ in her first year of study and is a member of the University’s chamber choir, Ad Solem. She played the part of Roxie, a principal role in the University’s production of ‘Mrs President’ by Victoria Bond in her second year of study. She is also a founding member of the Mancunium Consort and is about to begin as a member of the thirteenth cohort of Genesis Sixteen 2023/24.
Levi Collin – Alto
Levi Collin is a singer, pianist and violinist in their second year at the University of Manchester. Though they are officially studying English Literature, Levi is a committed member of the music society, and is involved both as a frequent performer and as the Lunchtime Concert Manager. Born and raised in Newcastle Upon Tyne, they were a member of Quay Voices for several years, and won prizes at the Avsion Ensembles Young Musicians’ Awards, and Ryton Music Festival. Levi is also an alumnus of both Samling Academy and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and they are excited to continue developing their musicianship and ensemble skills at HeartEdge Manchester.
Stella Vollum – Alto
Stella Vollum is a mezzo soprano, currently in the first year of an undergraduate music degree at the University of Manchester. She began her choral training with Voices of Derby, with whom she’s toured in Paris, Vienna, Belgium and, most recently, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Stella has gone on to study voice at Chetham’s School of Music with Helen Francis. During her time at Chetham’s, Stella was involved in a range of vocal and choral performances, including Bernstein’s Mass at the RNCM, Haydn’s Harmoniemesse with the BBC Philharmonic, as well as an Afrocuban jazz performance at Birmingham Conservatoire. Alongside classical singing, Stella enjoys folk, jazz and pop music, and recently performed with her band at Tramlines Fringe in Sheffield.
Kwankaew Ruangtrakool – Conducting Scholar
Kwankaew Ruangtrakool is a conductor and soprano from Thailand, currently in her 3rd year as a music student at the University of Manchester. She is a current conductor of Somnium Chamber Choir, the University’s Chamber Choir (Ad Solem) and Symphony Orchestra. She has just completed HeartEdge Manchester Choral Scholarship and has been selected to join EuroChoir 2022 session in Switzerland, organised by the European Choral Association. While in Manchester, Kwankaew sang in multiple vocal ensembles, including Mancunium Consort, Somnium Chamber Choir, Manchester Oratory Choir, Holy Name Consort and Ad Solem.
HeartEdge Manchester Choral Scholars 2022-23
Soprano – Verona-India Braich, Katie Lyons, Kwankaew Ruangtrakool, Lydia Wonham
Alto – Priscilla Fong, Toluwani Idowu
Tenor – Alex Kirkland, Jacob Parker
Bass – James Connolly, Sam Weakley
HeartEdge Manchester Choral Scholars 2021-22
Soprano – Isabelle Palmer, Molly O’Toole, Helen Southernwood
Alto – Florence Price, Phoebe Watts
Tenor – Andrew Morton, Joseph Taylor
Bass – Adam Jarman, Harry Mobbs
HeartEdge Manchester 