Past and present…
IRENE CARTER
Voice part: Soprano
Nationality: UK
How long have you been in CML? since June 2023
Favourite music and/or composer(s): I like a bit of everything but my favourite is probably early 20th century music (Britten, Howells, RVW, Stravinsky, Elgar, Sibelius) and anything by James MacMillan.
Favourite singer: Classical would be Kathleen Battle – but all time has to be Ella Fitzgerald…
Favourite CML concert: I liked our England Lanes concert where we got to sing Take Him Earth for Cherishing by Howells, which is a very special piece. We got to sing the concert on tour to Berlin as well which was soooooo much fun.
Hobbies and interests: Watching telly and chatting.
RACHEL SPINK
Hobbies: aside from singing with CML, I enjoy cycling, a good novel, messing around on the piano, and have recently taken up running.
LAURA SANDFORD
Voice: Soprano
Nationality: British
Occupation: Editor of illustrated non-fiction books
How long have you been a member of CML? Since September 2016
Favourite CML concert: Our 50th anniversary concert, which was a wonderful celebration of both 50 years of CML and the power of music to uplift and inspire us.
Started singing: in my school choir, when I was 12.
Favourite music: I love Austro-German Romantic composers like Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Mahler. Other favourite composers include Bach, Haydn and Vaughan Williams.
Favourite singer: Janet Baker
Hobbies and pastimes: When I’m not singing, I enjoy playing the piano and clarinet, exploring London’s museums, galleries, parks and pubs, going to concerts, reading, and swimming. I also adore cats and house and cat sit for friends and family all over London.
SABINE BIRCH
Voice: soprano
Nationality: German
Occupation: teacher
How long have you been a member of CML? 15 years
Started singing: in the pram
Favourite music: Lieder by Schubert and Schumann
Fave composer: Mozart, Schubert, Brahms
Fave singer: Fischer-Dieskau
Fave CML concert: Deutsches Requiem by Brahms
Hobbies: Making music with my children at home and performing in shows at school
KATHRYN BUCKLEY
Voice: Alto
Nationality: British
Occupation: PPC Account Manager
How long have you been a member of CML? : former member
Favourite CML concert: My first ever concert! Singing Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms was a real highlight.
Started singing: I’ve been singing to myself for as long as I can remember, but I took it up seriously when I won a choral scholarship with Wadham College, Oxford.
Favourite music: Within choral repertoire, Rachmaninov’s Vespers. However, I’m more of an orchestral musician and love . . . Rachmaninov again.
Favourite singer: I’m going to break with tradition here and say Taylor Swift.
Hobbies and pastimes: Aside from singing I love travelling, going to the beach as often as possible, knitting, and I’ve recently been introduced to the delights of Tottenham Hotspur FC.
LIZ ARAM
Voice: Soprano
Nationailty: British
Occupation: Freelance communications consultant specialising in health
How long have you been a member of CML? 24 years
Home: Wimbledon
Started singing: probably in my pram
Favourite music: I’ve loved discovering completely new music such as the Latin American repertoire, Whitacre, early English, and modern English eg Jonathon Dove, Maxwell Davies
Fave composer: Still can’t beat J S Bach
Fave CML concert: Luminoso (September 2015) I sponsored this concert to raise money for a charity that means a lot to me. I think it’s great that the choir encourages people to bring ideas and connections. I like these themed a capella concerts where we provide an informal cabaret atmosphere and a huge range of old/new/popular/unexpected/interesting music.
Hobbies: literature, meditation, fitness, voluntary work, my house in France (available to let – sorry for plug!)
SEBASTIAN BORGER
Voice: Bass/baritone
Nationality: German
Occupation: London correspondent for newspapers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
How long have you been a member of CML? 18 years
Home: Haringey, North London
Where did you start singing? At home with my parents and sisters
Favourite piece of choral music: St Matthew Passion
Favourite composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Favourite singer: The Baritone Christian Gerhaher
Favourite CML concert: Our socially distanced Messiah in Temple Church, December 2020, two days before another Covid lockdown.
JOHN BIGGINS
Voice: Tenor
Nationality: British
Occupation: Professional actor/graphic designer
How long have you been a member of CML? 22 years
Home: Hither Green, SE London
Where did you start singing? At school
Favourite piece of choral music: Strauss Four Last Songs
Favourite composer: It has to be Beethoven
Favourite singer: Emma Kirkby
Favourite CML concert: AMORE, 2014
Hobbies and pastimes: Leeds United FC, photography
