Personnel

NIGEL SHORT – Artistic Director

Growing up in the Midlands (UK) Nigel began his musical life as a chorister at Solihull Parish Church going on to study singing and piano at the Royal College of Music in London. As a young counter-tenor he was soon working with various opera companies, was in demand as an oratorio and early music soloist, sang at Westminster Cathedral, with the Tallis Scholars and various other specialist choral groups.

In 1993, Nigel joined the world-renowned vocal ensemble the King’s Singers.  After a short break in the Swiss Alps In 2001, Nigel set up his own professional choir, Tenebrae , which has now performed in many of the worlds most prestigious music festivals. USA, Bermuda, Spain, Switzerland, France, Germany and the UK are countries where the group is particularly renowned and the list of destinations continues to grow. The group is frequently heard on Classic fm and Radio 3.

More recently, Nigel has been Director of Music at St Bartholomew the Great, London. He has co-produced Tenebrae’s own CDs (on the Signum Records label) and has been an occasional chorus-master for the London Symphony Chorus and the Royal College of Music Chorus. He is a vocal coach and teaches singing, runs workshops and masterclasses for schools, small choral ensembles and large choirs. Nigel is married to the soprano Grace Davidson.

Nigel has conducted Vox Coelestis since its formation in 2005.

SIMON FILSELL – Choir Manager

Simon was Head Chorister at Holy Trinity, Coventry’s Parish Church.  He was nominated by the Royal School of Church Music as a finalist in the first ever “Choirboy of the Year” competition in 1975, alongside Nigel Short’s Solihull contemporary, Ian Simcock, adjudicated by Sir David Willcocks and Sir Charles Groves.

After a time as a bass in Coventry Cathedral Choir, he became a Layclerk in St Albans Cathedral Choir. He has sung with several chamber choirs, including the New London Chamber Choir, Vox Musica, the Michael Brewer Singers and, for 25 years, the Joyful Company of Singers. He has been a soloist on several of JCS’ recordings, as well as in concerts in Russia, France, Germany and the USA. He has also been a soloist in Monteverdi’s Vespers for City Chamber Choir in London, as well as at the BBC Proms, on Radio 3 and at the Snape Maltings under James Macmillan.

After several years as a Property & IT Manager for the Church of England in St Albans and a School Business Manager in Amersham, he is now Diocesan Administrator for the Diocese of Edinburgh. He is also Vice Chair of Trustees for the Mission to Seafarers Scotland. He sings in the cathedral choirs of St Mary’s and St Giles, as well as the unique Robin Chapel Choir, along with chamber groups such as Cantica Alba and Sospiro Baroque.  Along with his wife, Karen, and two friends, he established the Scottish Vocal Ensemble.