Martin Elliott
Trained as a chorister of Westminster Abbey, a choral scholar of Christ Church, Oxford and post-graduate scholar at the Guildhall School of Music, London, he formed several vocal groups for UK and international performances, specialising in baroque and contemporary music, while building a career as an oratorio bass/baritone and teacher of singing. Along with European appearances, he created special relationships with arts organizations in New Zealand, Australia and Canada, performing and giving lectures and masterclasses.
Martin made his London debut with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican in Bellini’s opera I Puritani, Martin has since sung in nearly every European country and most of its major concert halls, from Norway’s Arctic Northern Lights Festival to Acco’s Festival of Voice in Israel.
Martin also appeared on numerous BBC Radio and Television programmes including a role in BBC TV’s “By the Sword Divided”. In 1992 he founded the Wren Baroque Soloists, making their debut with first recordings of Caldara’s Madrigals and Cantatas for Unicorn Kanchana, and later releasing music by Martin Peerson for Collins Classics.
In 1995 Martin started the Wren Baroque orchestra making its debut at London’s Barbican and then the Brighton Festival with performances of Bach’s “St Matthew Passion” and “St John Passion” in Novello’s new English edition by Neil Jenkins
His recitals have often been in support of the Royal Society of Musicians, a charity helping musicians and their families. With this background, three teaching posts in England as well as a thriving private practice, Martin’s international career concentrated on oratorio concerts, recitals, masterclasses, and directing and tutoring a wide range of vocal courses.
The new century saw Martin give oratorio debuts in Australia for the Sydney Philharmonia (Bach’s B minor Mass), in New Zealand with the Christchurch City Choir (St. Matthew Passion), and the Auckland Choral Society (Messiah), and in Canada at Edmonton’s Winspear Centre (Bach’s Christmas Oratorio), later singing the Brahm’s Requiem in Stratford and Toronto, Ontario.
Further oratorio concerts included Mozart’s Requiem with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in Winchester Cathedral, England with David Hill, and a live broadcast for National Radio of Handel’s Messiah in Wellington, New Zealand, along with Verdi’s Requiem and Bach’s St Matthew Passion for the 100th anniversary of the Bach Elgar choir in Ontario, and also Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum, V. Williams’ 5 Mystical Songs and Rutter’s Mass for the Children in Auckland, New Zealand. His teaching extended to running a course “Inspiration for Singers” in Sillico, Tuscany, an idyllic retreat in the mountains north of Lucca.
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