The Semibreves - three singers and a pianist, are a group of friends, who share a love of music and singing and have sung in a variety of concerts, shows and even pantomimes. They sing a wide range of music; songs from the shows, some pop, a splash of folk music and some light opera. The performers for the concert are:
Andrew Burke
A lifelong resident of Ipswich, Andrew studied at the Royal Academy of Music as a composer and pianist. Having retired from full-time employment in 2014 music is no longer a ‘spare time’ activity, involving conducting, playing and arranging music, and – only occasionally nowadays – composing. Locally Andrew has appeared with the Ipswich Symphony Orchestra as the soloist in Stravinsky’s Petrouchka and with the Trianon Orchestra as soloist (twice) in the Warsaw Concerto. He has also been involved with the Ipswich Gilbert & Sullivan Society and the Ipswich Operatic Society. Other work has been as an orchestrator and arranger, and as an occasional piano recitalist.
Louise Cockerill
Louise is the instigator and organiser of the Semibreves. She has been singing for several years with a variety of groups, singing a range of solo and chorus work. Louise especially enjoys singing and performing with her friends from the Semibreves. She has sung in many of the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas and has also been a guest soloist with several singing groups and at charity fundraising events. Louise has been fortunate to have played many of the lead soprano roles in G&S operettas in Suffolk and also in Essex. The most enjoyable role she has played is Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, with its fabulous coloratura songs.
Mark Ellis
Mark provides the low notes. A keen bass/baritone, he has been singing in the Essex/Suffolk area for many years and has been fortunate to sing a wide range of repertoire in choirs in the region, from Renaissance to modern. As a soloist, he has performed Bach's St John Passion, Stainer’s Crucifixion, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs. On stage he has performed many roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan canon, his favourites being J W Wells (The Sorcerer), The Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance) and Bunthorne (Patience).
Sylvia Towell
Sylvia developed a love of singing while still at school and has been singing and performing for many years. She has appeared in most of the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, with her most recent role being Dick Deadeye in H.M.S. Pinafore. She has also sung in many other musicals such as Oklahoma and Half a Sixpence. Over the years Sylvia has performed many comedy songs in concerts but she enjoys singing any type of music. She now sings with several local groups and recently sang the role of Joseph in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.