Meet the choir

Soprano Text

Soprano Katharina Dunn came to England aged sixteen, after obtaining a scholarship to Malvern College to complete the International Baccalaureate. It is there that she discovered her love of singing and became an active member of both the chapel and chamber choir. Two years later she was awarded a place to read Classics at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where she became a chorister under the direction of Oliver Lomberg and Matthew Dunn. After four years at Peterhouse she went to London to study the Law.

Alto Originally from the Midlands, alto Marion Harris graduated from the University of Birmingham with a First in Music in 2011. During her studies Marion had singing lessons with Faye Newton through the Centre for Early Music Performance and Research, and also sang with the choir of St. Chad's R.C. Cathedral, Birmingham. After graduating Marion trained as a Librarian. Marion joined the Iken Scholars in July 2015, and also sings with the BBC Symphony Chorus.

Tenor David Thomson gained a tenor Choral Studentship at St John’s College Cambridge, and has since performed with a wide range of ensembles including the Cambridge Taverner Choir, De Profundis, the Holst Singers and Pegasus. He was formerly Academic Director at St John’s College School, Cambridge and now runs his own Educational Consultancy.

Bass Laurence is a sustainability manager and a doctoral researcher in environmental policy. He sings primarily with local ensembles in southeast London, and occasionally further afield. Laurence graduated from The Queen's College, Oxford in 2019, where he held a choral scholarship

Soprano Mary Clayton-Kastenholz received her initial choral training in the US before moving to the UK 10 years ago; she now performs with numerous symphonic and chamber choirs in London. When not singing, Mary is the Assistant Rare Books Librarian at Lambeth Palace Library and is writing a PhD in the history of collections and institutions.

Alto Jessica read music at King’s College, Cambridge, where she held a choral award with the college’s mixed voice choir. She also held a Cambridge University Instrumental Award for chamber music (flute) and was a passionate chamber and orchestral musician. Since graduating she has completed an MA (University of York) and PhD (University of Leeds) in English Literature, focussing on contemporary non-fiction writing about the environment in Australia and Canada.

Alto Jess Daggers has a degree in politics, philosophy and economics and works as a freelance consultant for charities and social enterprises. She was born in Manchester where she first started singing in a local church choir. She now sings with several other groups in London including the English Chamber Choir, Orlando Chamber Choir, New Renaissance Voices and Spezzati.

Bass Harley studied music at Cambridge and has since been singing in the choir of Ely Cathedral as a lay clerk. When not singing he works as a librarian in Cambridge, and in his spare time composes and edits church music. He also runs the English Tiddlywinks Association and is a former world champion in the sport.

Soprano Emily has a background in classical music, specifically choral singing. After studying music in Sheffield and Manchester, she went to work on the BBC Proms and Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), before going on to work in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. During this time she was Head of the UK City of Culture Programme, Head of Cultural Diplomacy and Head of International Activity for Eurovision 2023. Emily currently works in the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and continues to sing on a part-time basis

Alto Mayuko Tanno was a choral scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where she read Music and predominantly spent her time performing with various university ensembles as a flautist, doubling reed player and conductor. Since graduating she has sung with a range of ensembles including the Lacock Scholars, Holst Singers and London Philharmonic Choir. After a brief stint in arts management, she now works in marketing communications for a major financial services firm.

Tenor John began singing as a choirboy at Winchester College, where he went on to be a music and academic scholar. He was a choral scholar at King's College, Cambridge from 2004-2007, reading Classics and Law. He now works as a barrister at Essex Court Chambers, and sings with the Iken Scholars, the Epiphoni Consort and as an occasional dep with the Choir of the Chapels Royal, HM Tower of London. He also loves playing the piano and violin, especially accompanying. John is married to Jessica Ballantine.

Bass Maxime, a Luxembourgish bass, started singing soprano in a boy's choir at age 7, and then percolated down the stave until reaching his current state. He discovered the wonders of Renaissance polyphony while an astrophysics student in Berkeley, California, where he directed a group of student madrigalists. He then moved to London, and joined too many choirs. He recently completed his PhD in statistics at Harvard University, where he directed the Tactus Ensemble.