2025 was an intense year, which began with orthopaedic surgery and ended with some wonderful performances and the opportunity to work with a renowned Dutch singing teacher.

I learned in 2024 that, following a cycling accident in 2017, I had been given the wrong diagnosis for my shoulder. Early in 2025 I finally had the surgery I should have had years ago, and so began a recovery period, with intense physiotherapy and strict rules about not overdoing it. I took on some performances here and there, including the ANZAC day ceremony organised by the New Zealand Embassy in The Hague, a very carefully-planned trip to Normandy to sing for the D-Day commemorations, first world war remembrance in the Somme and Ypres, plus some Christmas concerts.

I also took time to compose. I’m working on a large-scale work about Violette Szabo, a Second World War spy, called “Violette: A Requiem for the Unseen.” I published “Give Peace,” an easy a capella SSATB motet suitable for remembrance ceremonies. My work helping behind the scenes at Commonwealth War Graves Commission planning the orders of service for commemorations in Normandy and the annual carol service organised by their foundation drew my attention to a lack of easy, a capella choir repertoire suitable for remembrance ceremonies. This is hardly surprising given that the tradition of holding a ceremony to remember the fallen grew out of the widespread grief following the First World War. Here is my setting of “Give peace” – the versicle and response used in evening prayer:

In the summer, I was given the chance to work with mezzo-soprano Marion van den Akker, so for the coming months I’ll be knuckling down and training. It’s wonderful working on new repertoire, including Brahms, Verdi, and Wagner, and I love the sense that my voice is continuing to develop. Especially after feeling stagnated for nearly a decade following my shoulder accident, I am intensely enjoying finding this new freedom in my voice!

I wish you a very happy, inspiring, and healthy 2026.

I joined K&G 3 in the Pieterskerk, Leiden, the burial place of Pilgrim Father John Robinson, for two jam-packed Christmas Eve services. 

With thanks to René Lekkie,  Margreet Klokke, Willeke Smits, Jos, Thijs, and the team who organised the services and made them happen. 

Happy Christmas! 

Possibly the most confronting event of the year, worldwide candle-lighting day brings those who have experienced bereavement after the death of a young person together for a moment of reflection. 

The event has been held in Leiden for ten years now. Candles are lit, names are read out, and photos are shown. 

Perhaps most magical is the reception afterwards, where the sorrow transforms into warmth and laughter. I cannot begin to imagine the depths of sorrow people feel at the loss of a young person, a child, toddler, baby, stillborn, or miscarriage. But I can imagine that coming together and knowing one is not alone may help in this process. 

With thanks to Xenia Hospice and the Leiden City Council for organising and hosting this event for a decade. 

I joined opera singers Nataliia and Slava Cioban for a Christmas tattoo in Leiden, together with K&G, Flora Band, and the Band of Liberation.

One audience member was there in a hospital bed with a team of medics as her last wish, even in the freezing cold. It was moving to sing in what is generally a joyful and festive event knowing that she was there.

What a joy it was to sing for members of the Officers’ Mess of The Hague at their Christmas ball at Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin, the Netherlands. With seventeen generals present, we took a moment to remember absent friends and toasted the king and queen, each with an accompanying song. I also sang the first dance number, accompanied by a pop band – it was tremendously fun to sing in a different style, deliberately avoiding the beat.