About
Joe is a first-year masters student on the Vocal Studies and Opera programme at the Royal Northern College of Music, a leading international conservatoire, where he obtained a first class honours degree at undergraduate level.
Joe is generously supported in his studies by a contribution from the South Square Trust, for which he is extremely grateful.
Principally a classical musician, Joe has sung in many different styles and genres from theatre to Mozart. He has a special interest in Romantic and classical art song from different countries, including English art song and German Lied.
Joe began his musical training age 14 under Tim Harding, a vocal coach based in Dudley. Now taught by Bass-Baritone Matthew Best, an internationally renowned singer who has worked at the highest level for over 30 years, Joe always looks to expand his repertoire by exploring new genres and styles of music.
Joe was awarded the Brenda Arnold Trophy for vocal solo and the Lyn Andrews Challenge Award for outstanding talent in a vocalist aged 18 and under in the 55th annual Dudley Festival of Music, Drama and Dance. He was also the winner of the Brian Pearsall Prize for Singing at King Edward VI College, Stourbridge. Most recently, Joe was 'Highly Recommended' in the prestigious James Martin Oncken Song Prize at RNCM.
During his undergraduate degree, Joe took three chorus roles in RNCM operas, Offenbach's 'La Vie Parisienne', Handel's 'Theodora' and Massenet's 'Cendrillon' which was nominated for best opera in the Manchester Theatre Awards. He was also cast as Mistrust in RNCM's production of 'The Pilgrim's Progress' by Vaughan-Williams in Spring 2019, directed by Jonathan Cocker and conducted by David Parry. Most recently, Joe sang the role of the Witch of Endor in Handel’s ‘Saul’ as a guest soloist of the Academy Choir, Wimbledon, alongside renowned bass-baritone Christopher Purves. This year, Joe was selected to be an RNCM Songster, a group of singers and pianists who specialise in song repertoire and who give internal and external performances around RNCM. In December, Joe made his Bridgewater Hall debut with the Songsters when performing in a pre-concert performance of Scandinavian music.
Away from singing, Joe enjoys playing the piano and is teaching himself the cello, albeit very slowly. Joe is also a keen amateur photographer, taking landscape images, macro work and portraiture. He also supports Wolverhampton Wanderers.