Meet The Team
People
Neil Ferris – Patron
We are honoured and delighted that Neil Ferris, the Chorus Director of the BBC Symphony Chorus is Luminosa’s Patron. In demand as a guest conductor to some of the finest choirs and orchestras in the UK, Neil also prepares choirs for some of the world’s leading orchestral conductors and regularly sees his choir at the BBC Proms. Neil is also conductor of Wimbledon Choral Society and of leading chamber choir Sonoro, with whom he has recorded and toured.
As well as supporting our choir, Neil leads our annual Come and Sing Event.
We are proud of our association with such an inspiring and engaging choral conductor
Rebekah Abbott – Artistic Director & Conductor
Conductor and Soprano, Rebekah read music at Cambridge University, where she recorded for BBC Radio 3 and was a member of the audition only Cambridge University Chamber Choir. She has sung in major performances for the Hogarth Singers at St James’ Piccadilly and for the National Trust at Blickling Hall in Norfolk. In addition to an extensive subsequent career as a Soloist, Rebekah worked for 5 years as Director of Performing Arts in an independent school Music Department.
Since then, Rebekah has conducted everything from youth groups to professional ensembles and regularly works as a vocal coach for choral societies throughout the UK. Rebekah started Luminosa Choir from scratch and the choir continues to go from strength to strength, with a Chamber Choir and a Youth Choir now thriving too. As well as conducting, Rebekah also teaches singers and conductors from her home near Alton, she is also Vocal Professor and Chorus Director to the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth and Vocal Tutor to the Royal Marines Band Service which takes her to performance venues all over the world. She has most recently conducted the Royal Marines choir and prepared soloists for concerts in the Royal Albert Hall.
Rebekah lives just outside Alton with her two glorious children, Isabella and Sofia.
Rebekah conducts Luminosa Voices & Luminosa Chamber Voices and is also responsible for the artistic direction of the Luminosa family of Choirs.
Jonathan Upfold -Assistant Conductor, Accompanist and Leader of Lumin Young Voices
Jonathan Upfold was in born in Redhill, Surrey. He currently teaches year 6 at Brockhurst Junior School, Gosport. Prior to that, he taught at Fairisle Junior School, Southampton, and Brighton Hill Community College, Basingstoke. Alongside teaching, he performs regularly as a tenor soloist and has worked as a full-time singer in the choirs of Winchester cathedral, Chester cathedral, York Minster and the BBC Radio 4 Daily Service. He completed a masters degree in ethnomusicology from the University of York in 2005 and a Diploma in Piano performance with distinction in 2001 (Dip ABRSM). As a student, he was a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain before taking up a choral scholarship at York Minster. He also teaches flute, voice and piano privately and regularly accompanies soloists and choirs for concerts, exams and recitals.
Johnathan leads/conducts the Luminosa Young Voices and accompanies Luminosa Voices.
Josh Robinson – Conductor Luminosa Young Voices
Josh Robinson is an enthusiastic voice teacher, coach and Musical Director. His passion for voice began when singing in his secondary school choir, wanting to know why and how we make the sounds that we do. Years down the line, Josh studied a Voice Studies & Performing Arts programme at The University of Winchester. This training explored the practises of voice from different models and methods in a multi-discipline environment. Josh has studied with well-acclaimed specialist-voice teachers and had experience in a clinical setting within the voice community.
Working as a voice teacher and choir director has been the highlight of all Josh’s work, giving people an experience to sing, and giving them a new found confidence keeps his passion burning.
Josh has performed in various venues across the county, these titles include; Winchester Cathedral, Leeds Cathedral, Birmingham Conservatoire, Bamberg, Berlin and performing in front of 25,000 people on the main stage arena at the biggest vintage Jazz Festival ‘Twinwoods’ in Bedfordshire in 2017.
Joshua conducts the Luminosa Rising Voices.
As well as teaching, Josh has had an abundance of experience as a performer, some of his acting roles explored are; Tinman (The Wizard of Oz), Fagin (Oliver!), Beast (Beauty and the Beast) and Truffaldino (The Servant to Two Masters). Josh has also appeared in a 2008’s television commercial Birdseye with lead singer Suggs from ‘Madness’. His wide range of performance skills allows him to bring the best out of any performer he teaches, giving a confidence to shine and sing with a healthy, happy voice.
Josh has also worked as a Musical Director, these works include Performing Arts Winchester’s productions of Anything Goes (2017) Sister Act (2018), and Annie (2018) with Reading Operatic Society.
Josh is a member of The Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS) and the British Voice Association (BVA) in which he loves to continue his development and knowledge as a voice teacher.
Adam Blosse – Accompanist
Adam freelances under the titles of Musical Director, MT Répétiteur, Choirmaster, Sound/Music Designer and Lecturer. He trained at the University of Surrey, achieving a MMus in Creative Practice, 1st class BMus in Creative Music Technology and a performance scholarship. Working across Hampshire and London he is credited on over 150 shows. His passion for injecting technology into music performance frequently lands commissions for his music systems design and interactive compositions. He is currently employed as Resident MD & Lecturer for
Jellicoe Theatre and Resident Pianist & Musical Supervisor for the University of Winchester. He is overjoyed to bring the music of
Zimbe!
Notable credits include: Frankies Guys (UK Tour), PHA Pantomimes (Carriageworks, Hoddesdon Hall, Spotlight), Collabro UK Tour (8218 Youth), Harry Kit Lee (Leicester Square Theatre, Phoenix Arts, Crazy Coqs, Live At The Zedel), Cinderella (De Montfort Hall – Imagine Theatre), Big Fish (Hangar Farm Arts Centre), Sister Act / Elf The Musical (Haymarket).