Meet Con Brio
Lizzie Capener Soprano grew up in the heart of the Gloucestershire countryside, spending the majority of her early years trying to overcome her ‘cowpat’ image. Her move to Exeter University, however, only increased her exposure to the Green Welly Wearing Brigade, of which body she is now a life member. Lizzie is never afraid to show off her considerable assets, a trait that has long since been admired by fellow choir members, conductors and audiences alike.
Helen Hendry Alto Despite working full time in arts administration, Helen seems to find enough holiday allowance to spend the majority of her life on tour. Having conquered most of Europe, she now has her sights set on a transatlantic lifestyle, jetting between concert venues whilst still scheduling in some serious shopping action. Helen is also a talented cellist – in fact, to the annoyance of everyone else, there is very little that she can’t do.
Jenine Mudge Alto Born in Guernsey, Jenine is an honours graduate of the Colchester School of Music and Performing Arts. It is difficult to escape her presence (and we’ve certainly tried) at the major London concert venues where she is a frequent performer. Despite a hectic performing schedule, she still finds time to impart her considerable wisdom on a large number of instrumental pupils, as well as the odd date drooling over Orlando Bloom on a big screen whilst recording the music for his latest film.
Gareth Moss Tenor A Harrovian in all but the truest sense of the word, Gareth foresook a potentially successful public school career to live and study among the 'common people'. However his attempts to avoid his middle-class heritage failed him when he became yet another rugby-playing choral singer and were further compounded when he began his current career at the Royal Opera House. Gareth is pleased to have finally found, in Con Brio, an establishment where he is the smaller of two tenors and therefore the rarer beast.
Greg Tassell Tenor began his musical life as a chorister at Durham Cathedral in 1990. As a boy Greg was rather large and Durham Cathedral choristers were quite glad when his voice eventually broke and he had to leave the choir, giving the boys some breathing space. For a while Exeter Cathedral choir took him on as a choral scholar but even they were struggling for space as Greg's formidable frame now took up most of the back row. In 2005 Greg decided to have one last gasp effort at choral singing with Con Brio and thankfully they have taken him on, although he is on a strict diet to ensure he remains the right size for the job!
Adrian Collister Bass Hailing from the Isle of Man, the first thing you'll notice about Adrian is that he doesn't have a tail. After washing up on English shores some ten years ago he devoted himself to the pursuit of heavenly bodies, allegedly in the course of degrees in Astrophysics. Academia proved to be too much like hard work however, and he is now working for an investment bank in the City – the perfect way to wind down after another stressful Con Brio gig.
Julian Collings Musical Director Being possessed of somewhat obsolete intellectual equipment, the only career path open to Julian was that of the professional musician. A man of nocturnal persuasion, he prefers to work under the cover of darkness, rarely setting foot in the working world before the sun goes down. He spends much of this time travelling on public transport, a hazard that has often landed him in conversation with some very unsavoury people. Active as an organist, conductor and teacher, he is a great believer in crossing the boundaries of good taste.
