HH Classical Duo

HH CLASSICAL DUO In 2016, Olivia Hunt and John Hosking decided to create an early music group, inspired mainly by the performances of L'Arpeggiata. Although Olivia has always had a deep passion for music from this period, there had never been the opportunity to perform much of it. Both musicians felt very strongly about exposing as many people as possible to this genre of music in such a way that they would leave a performance wanting to discover more. Ensemble 1677 was formed, with its name inspired by the Italian composer and soprano, Barbara Strozzi. Strozzi died in 1677, and led a remarkable life. She had more music published in her lifetime than any other composer in that period; quite an achievement, especially for a woman at that time! Olivia and John now continue their work as an early music duo and are available for bookings throughout the UK. OLIVIA HUNT began singing as a Chorister of Chester Cathedral, culminating her time there as Head Chorister. As a member of the Cathedral Choir, she took part in numerous television and radio broadcasts, both as a soloist (notably the televised Christmas Day Eucharist from the Cathedral in 2009) and as part of the choir. One of the many highlights of Olivia’s singing career to date was becoming a finalist at BBC Radio 2’s 2009 Young Chorister of the Year competition, singing at St. Paul’s Cathedral to a capacity audience. Studying with Edward Hartwell-Jones, she achieved Grade Eight singing with distinction and also passed the Advanced Certificate in performance. She now studies with Damian O'Keefe and Dame Emma Kirkby. Olivia graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First Class honours degree in Biomedical Science. She continues to sing as a soloist, is a part of various chamber groups and is a founding member of The Octavo Consort. In 2013 she made her solo debut in the North Wales International Music Festival, returning in 2015 to sing the soprano solos in the Mozart Requiem and 2016 to sing a variety of works on the Festival's opening night. She opened the 2017 Conwy Festival with Ensemble 1677, took the part of "Dido" in Ensemble 1677's production of Purcell's "Dido and Aeneas" and has also sung the solo parts in Haydn's "Nelson Mass" and the Handel "Messiah". Her interest in combining music with acting led to her partaking in a workshop with Welsh National Opera. In 2014 she performed The Gondoliers with Opera della Luna. She appears as the soloist in John Hosking's "Requiem" on the Regent CD "All Angels Cry Aloud" with the Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge. Olivia has been broadcast four times recently on the BBC's "Introducing" scheme and interviewed live on the Radio Wales Arts Show. In 2016, Olivia co-founded Ensemble 1677 with John Hosking. Olivia and John have recently completed a successful tour of the South West, performing in such venues as Bristol and Truro Cathedrals as well as St. Michael’s Mount. They have recorded a CD together for Willowhayne Records in conjunction with Naxos for release in 2018. Olivia has recently qualified with distinction as an Equine Sports Massage Therapist and runs her own successful business, O.H. Equine Therapy. She is represented by Cross Channel Productions. Olivia is also the recipient of the 2017/8 Sickle Foundation Award from the Worshipful Welsh Livery Guild for services to Welsh music. She also works as a verger and deputy lay clerk at Chester Cathedral. JOHN HOSKING is Assistant Director of Music at St. Asaph Cathedral in North Wales and Director of the Cathedral's Voluntary Choir. A student at the Royal College of Music, John became Organ Scholar of Westminster Abbey in 1996 and is the only person to ever hold this post for a period of three years. During this time, John played the organ for many Royal and State occasions, broadcast for the BBC and played 20 solo recitals in the Abbey. After graduating, John acted as Assistant Organist at Lincoln and Truro Cathedrals before being appointed Master of the Choir at Bramdean School in Exeter, broadcasting with the choir on Sky News and CNN. In much demand as a recitalist and accompanist, John appears on several commercial CDs; his latest, "Variation", is recorded at St. Asaph Cathedral for the Regent Label. He made his recital debut at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris in 2015. Increasingly active as a composer, John has completed works for Bangor, Chester, Ely and Peel Cathedrals, Martin Baker (organist), St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Conwy Festival. His Requiem was premiered in the 2013 North Wales International Music Festival and his large-scale work, "The Seven Trumpets" premiered in December 2013. John's new setting of the Requiem, "Missa pro defunctis" was premiered on opening night of the 2016 North Wales International Music Festival to a capacity audience. The Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge together with the Ely Cathedral Girls' Choir have recently released complete disc of his choral works for Regent Records to critical acclaim. John's latest work for organ, "The 14 Stations of the Cross" written as part of Sebastian Thomson's "Angels of Creation" series has recently been released on the Convivium label and was labelled "Editor's Choice" in the Organists' Review magazine. All of his compositions are published by the Chichester Music Press. John is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. His compositions have been broadcast twice on the BBC’s “Introducing” scheme. In 2016 he co-founded Ensemble 1677 with Cheshire soprano, Olivia Hunt. John and Olivia undertook a tour of the South West and have recorded a CD together for Willowhayne Records in conjunction with Naxos for release in 2018. John is represented by Cross Channel Productions.