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.