Our new Choral Scholars
I am delighted to announce that we have recently appointed three new Choral Scholars, Gabrielle (Gabby) McCann, Ruaraidh McBain, and John Zhang, all of whom we introduced to the Congregation at the Choral Eucharist on Sunday 19 October…
“Hi everyone, I’m John – originally from London, I am a 1 year Masters student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, specialising in Collaborative Piano. My long-term ambition is to work in opera as a repetiteur, so my main goal here is to work with as many singers as I can!
While I work as a pianist now, I was an organist in a past life; I’ve come to Glasgow having just graduated from St Catharine’s College, Cambridge earlier this year, where I read Music and was an Organ Scholar. Before that, I’ve held Organ Scholarships at Liverpool Cathedral and the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace.
I’m familiar with the liturgy and music, and have experience conducting and playing for many choirs, but as a Choral Scholar at St Bride’s, I’m really looking to develop and understand my own voice. It will be a great complement to my studies at the RCS, allowing me to support and coach singers better, and make me a more well-rounded musician overall. Really looking forward to it!”
Gabrielle McCann is a Glaswegian soprano currently studying Vocal Performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Whilst studying for a degree in Music, she also held a Choral Scholarship with the University of Glasgow Chapel Choir. Gabrielle is excited to return to the world of choral singing and, whilst at St Bride’s, she is looking forward to the opportunities that it will afford for her to improve her general musical abilities and her sight-reading skills.
Ruaraidh McBain is a Scottish Baritone from Inverkip, Greenock, currently studying for his Bachelor of Music Performance and Vocal Studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the tutelage of Kathleen McKellar-Ferguson. During his time at the RCS, Ru has been fortunate to receive experiences such as working on Massenet’s ‘Cendrillon’ and Mozart’s ‘Requiem’, as well as masterclasses with Malcolm Martineau and John Fisher. In addition to his studies, he has been a member of Scottish Opera’s Young Company, performing in solo roles in Williams/McKnight’s ‘Rubble’ and the 2024 Double Bill of ‘Maud/Down In The Valley’. He has also been a member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland, and has sung under the baton of Eric Whitacre, Sir Andrew Davies and Gareth Malone, performing in London and York and on tour around Scotland, and featuring on ‘BBC Children In Need’
Ruaraidh is looking forward to his time as a Choral Scholar, and becoming involved with the congregation at St Bride’s.
Alan Tavener
Director of Music