Talented singer soars to new heights

TALENTED musician James Kitchingman, who left Ripon Grammar School in 2021, has been taken under the wing of a world-renowned choir following highly competitive auditions.

The 22-year-old, from Burton Leonard, who has ambitions to become a professional singer, is currently studying for his music finals at the University of Cambridge’s Clare College, where he is a senior choral scholar in the chapel choir.

More than 200 gifted singers from all over the country auditioned for 22 places on the young artists’ programme attached to The Sixteen, the acclaimed choral ensemble founded by Harry Christophers.

Genesis Sixteen’s coveted free programme, which begins in August, aims to help nurture the next generation of ensemble singers and James will now enjoy taking part in residential courses, with masterclasses from top vocal experts throughout the year, aimed at helping to improve his solo and group singing skills.

James, who aims to study for a master’s degree in solo voice ensemble singing at the University of York, said he was thrilled to be a part of Genesis Sixteen after auditioning at London’s St Martin’s in the Fields: “It is a really exciting professional opportunity, and will hopefully lead to many further engagements in the future.”

Brought up in a musical family, he says he ended up embracing it as a central part of his life.

He sang in the chamber choir while he was at RGS, enjoying a tour to Bonn and Cologne in 2019, and performances in places such as Durham and Ripon Cathedral, where he was a chorister for seven years.

The pianist, singer and trumpet player also sang with the National Youth Choir and Opera North Youth Choir and won a place at the Royal Northern College of Music while he was at school, in addition to being admitted to London’s renowned Rodolfus Choir.

One of his musical highlights as a teenager was being a member of the pit band in RGS’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. He describes the school’s commitment to music as being invaluable for his musical education, helping him to later pursue the subject in earnest.

*The small vocal ensemble James currently sings with - Lady Clare’s Consort - will be touring North Yorkshire this summer, appearing at Bolton Abbey on July 22 and in Burton Leonard on July 23.

See more here: https://ladyclaresconsort.co.uk/services/