Henry is a bass from the north of Lincolnshire, and started singing through local musical theatre productions and in the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. His love of choral singing led him to read Music at the University of Cambridge, where he sang daily with the Choir of St. John’s College, and in its close-harmony group, The Gents of St John’s. Whilst at university, he balanced choral singing with solo performing, and took part in many university opera society productions and recitals. Henry had the privilege of learning with Joseph Middleton on the Sir Arthur Bliss Lieder Scheme, and performing as Christus alongside Nick Mulroy in performances of the St. John Passion last year. After graduating, he took up a place as VOCES8’s 2024-25 bass scholar, and a lay clerkship in the prestigious Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, where he sang for millions of people on TV and radio over the Christmas period.
Outside of singing, Henry is a keen footballer and Grimsby Town fan, and has recently become somewhat obsessed with barbershop quartet singing. He is absolutely delighted to join Tenebrae as their new Bass Associate Artist this year!
Tell us about your background in music.
As my parents will attest to, I’ve always been singing! It all started for me with musical theatre, and I only fell into choral music by chance when I was 15 through singing with my local Minster choir and joining the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain. I was then really lucky to do my undergraduate degree at the University of Cambridge. I read music academically, and also got to experience some of my favourite music-making ever, particularly with the Choir of St John’s College as an undergrad, and the Choir of King’s College as a Lay Clerk. I’m now a freelance bass living in London.
Which Tenebrae concert(s) are you particularly looking forward to?
I’m really looking forward to Tenebrae’s US tour in March ‘26, where we’ll be visiting both the West coast and the East coast. Similarly, we’re taking Handel’s Messiah across Europe this Christmas, in some absolutely stunning venues.
The opportunity to sing at such a high level with such amazing voices is something that still hasn’t fully sunk in yet. I feel so lucky to have a year of being surrounded by such an awesome sound!
What is your favourite piece of music to sing and why?
One of my favourite pieces to sing has to be MacMillan’s Miserere, which Tenebrae performs pretty regularly. The journey that the piece takes is just spellbinding, starting in a cold E minor, leading into plainsong that gradually builds in its dissonance, and finally melting back into an E major chorale. I still love it as much as I did the first time singing it.
Can you tell us about the most memorable concert you ever performed in?
As an undergraduate I sang with the close harmony group The Gents of St. John’s, and back in 2023 we were lucky enough to perform at a choral festival in Belgium, singing to 5000 people in the illuminated grounds of a ruined abbey. Not a bad day at the office.
What is your pre-concert routine?
I don’t really tend to get many pre-concert nerves, but I do like to slink away and have a bit of silence before we go on stage and the madness begins!