Nick Garrett (Bass Baritone) Nick was born in London, England. Having developed an interest in conducting and composition, Nick earned a degree from Trinity College of Music and went on to win the Wolfson Foundation Award for voice. Nick took time out immediately after his degree and joined the world-famous Swingle Singers, touring with them worldwide.
As a soloist, Nick has sung over 30 roles at some of the greatest opera houses in the world including the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera North and Opera National de Paris. As well as performing important opera roles, Nick has also sung all the major oratorio roles throughout Europe. As a composer, he contributes to the writing and arrangements of some of the pieces performed by the band.
BIRTHDAY: 13 April STAR SIGN: Aries FAVOURITE COLOUR: Black FAVOURITE MOVIE: ‘English Patient’ FAVOURITE ARTIST: Thom York FAVOURITE FOOD: Seafood FAVOURITE DRINK: Dom Perignon FAVOURITE CAR: Lotus Esprit Classic 77 version FAVOURITE DESIGNER: William Hunt
Jo Appleby (Soprano) Born in Blackpool, England. As every little girl does she studied ballet, tap, modern and jazz and it was later that singing became her passion. She completed her vocal training at the Royal Northern College of Music where she graduated with honours.
Sponsored by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, she made her debut at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Since then, she has performed some of the leading operatic roles including Despina in Cosi Fan Tutti, Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito, Jano Jenufa and First Soprano in James Macmillan’s Busqueda. Jo has also performed with the Carl Rosa Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
BIRTHDAY: 7 April STAR SIGN: Aries FAVOURITE COLOUR: Baby blue and turquoise FAVOURITE MOVIE: ‘Dirty Dancing’ and ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ FAVOURITE ARTIST: Renee Fleming FAVOURITE FOOD: Chocolate FAVOURITE DRINK: Bollinger FAVOURITE CAR: Jaguar (must be new, sporty and a soft top!) FAVOURITE DESIGNER: Ann Wiberg
David Habbin (Tenor) David was born near Bournemouth, England. Throughout his teens, David performed in rock bands but it was only when he started taking singing classes from a retired international opera singer that his interest for opera emerged. He studied music and acting at Mountview Drama School in London which led him to launch a successful career performing in London’s West End shows including Les Miserables and earned him the lead in the revival of the original London production of West Side Story.
David then turned to operatic performances and graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music. He joined the prestigious Glyndebourne Festival Opera Company. He has since performed a number of high-profile roles including Alfredo in la Traviata, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Alfred in Die Fledermaus and Ernesto in Don Pasquale, with various UK opera companies.
BIRTHDAY: 14 October STAR SIGN: Libra FAVOURITE COLOUR: Blue FAVOURITE MOVIE: ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ FAVOURITE ARTIST: David Bowie FAVOURITE FOOD: Shellfish FAVOURITE DRINK: Jack Daniels FAVOURITE CAR: Aston Martin Vanquish FAVOURITE DESIGNER: All Saints
Tsakane Valentine (Soprano) Born in Johannesburg, South Africa and grew up in Giyani. Tsakane has been singing African music in choirs since childhood. She studied music at The University of Pretoria and furthered her operatic training at Technikon Pretoria.
As a soloist, Tsakane has performed at a number of high-profile events and performed for world leaders, including Mandela and Mbeki and German Chancellor Schroder. Tsakane has played Musetta from La Boheme, the title role in Gräfin Mariza, Contessa Ceprano in Rigoletto, and Maria in West Side Story at the prestigious Spier Opera Festival in Cape Town, before moving to London and joining Amici forever.
BIRTHDAY: 14 February STAR SIGN: Aquarius FAVOURITE COLOUR: Blue FAVOURITE MOVIE: ‘Desperado’ FAVOURITE ARTIST: Bob Marley FAVOURITE FOOD: Biltong FAVOURITE DRINK: Baileys FAVOURITE CAR: BMW Z4 in black FAVOURITE DESIGNER: Trash Couture
Geoff Sewell (Tenor) Geoff grew up in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand and sang as a boy soprano in school choirs until the age of 18. He trained as a chartered accountant at Victoria University of Wellington and worked for four years with a merchant bank. Following the tragic death of his older sister and a subsequent family trip to Memphis in the United States, Geoff decided to follow his dream and moved to the US to study music at the prestigious Boston Conservatory.
After completing his vocal training Geoff established a successful entertainment company in London, during which time he performed as an operatic tenor in front of royalty and celebrities including Prince William and Sir Elton John. Other performances include concerts at the Royal Albert Hall accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a special unique performance of the New Zealand National Anthem in July 2002 during the Commonwealth Games.
BIRTHDAY: 13 March STAR SIGN: Pisces FAVOURITE COLOUR: Green FAVOURITE MOVIE: ‘Dead Poet’s Society’ FAVOURITE ARTIST: Elvis Presley FAVOURITE FOOD: New Zealand mussels FAVOURITE DRINK: New Zealand wine – all of it! FAVOURITE CAR: Porsche 911 FAVOURITE DESIGNER: Gianni Versace
Source: http://www.amiciforever.com/
