The Singers
The current members of Octavoce are:
Jennifer Sterling
Jennifer began her musical journey as a chorister at St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh alongside studies of violin and piano at St. Mary's Music School. She is a soprano and choral conductor working across the UK, and holds the role of Choral Delivery Artist with Opera North in which she conducts a wide variety of choirs and delivers vocal workshops across the north of England. Jennifer is a passionate Scots singer and can often be found teaching and performing Scots songs.
Jessica Conway
Jessica is studying for a Masters in singing at the Royal Northern College of Music with Hilary Summers. She has sung as a concert and opera soloist across the UK, with groups such as Eboracum Baroque, Edinburgh Royal Choral Union, Manchester Baroque and Opera dei Lumi. She is delighted to be a young artist with Dunedin Consort’s Bridging the Gap scheme this year. Jessica is also a keen violinist and had a career in arts management before deciding to pursue singing full time.
Nicola Henderson
Nicola is one of the founder members of Octavoce. She studied piano and recorder at St Mary’s Music school whilst singing as a chorister in St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral Edinburgh. She is currently the principal female singer at the ‘Spirit of Scotland’ show, alongside singing with the Robin Chapel Choir and other semi-professional choirs. Nicola works part -time as a GP partner in the Scottish Borders.
Ali Croal
Ali is a lay clerk at the Robin Chapel in Edinburgh and a frequent deputy at other churches around the city. Along with Octavoce, she has performed around the world with various choirs including the National Youth Choir of Scotland, the highlights being an appearance at the BBC Proms and a concert in Carnegie Hall, NYC. She is also a violinist and pianist. Ali is a maths graduate of Edinburgh Uni and is currently training to be a chartered accountant.
Stuart Mitchell
Scottish tenor, Stuart Mitchell, has graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a First Class honours degree in Music. Having returned to Edinburgh following his postgraduate studies in London, Stuart has worked as a freelance singer, teacher, and composer for the last 6 years and holds a lay clerkship at The Robin Chapel. He recently completed his PhD in Composition with a focus on the relationship between text and music.
Thomas Henderson
Thomas is a founding member of Octavoce. He began singing as a chorister of St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, attending St. Mary's Music School where he also studied the piano and violin. Today, he continues to sing with various choirs and perform Scottish fiddle music. When not indulging in his musical hobbies, Thomas works as a stage director for operas and musicals, as well as an assistant director with companies around the UK.
Tim Cais
Tim Cais is a freelance cellist, singer, arranger and teacher in Edinburgh. Since graduating with a BMus (Hons) from the Reid School of Music (University of Edinburgh), Tim has performed across the UK and Europe with many orchestras, ensembles and choirs including Octavoce, the Glasgow Chamber Choir, the Robin Chapel, the Fyrish String Quartet, Blackbird Opera, Magnetic Opera, Amicus, and Ensemble Alba.
Alex Shen
Alex Shen is a fifth-year medical student at the University of Edinburgh. He sings bass in the university’s Chamber Choir and deputises at cathedrals and churches around the city. Since starting singing in sixth-form, Alex has performed in numerous ensembles such as the Rodolfus Choir, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus and the BBC Proms Youth Choir. He also enjoys singing in a variety of non-classical groups, including his a cappella group ‘Tone Up’ and the university’s Showchoir.
