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What were some of the musical
highlights of your School career
and were there any particularly
influential singers or music
teachers?
I was at St Edward’s on a Music
Scholarship, and whilst in the Shells we
did a production of Verdi’s
Attila
, and I
played the cello. I remember at the dress
rehearsal they were very enthusiastic with
the dry ice, and we couldn’t see a thing
in the orchestra pit! It was an amazing
performance and a great introduction to
Teddies. At my prep school, Beechwood
Park, I was singing bass and baritone, and
Philip Cave tried to encourage this at St
Edward’s. In the Fifth Form we did cabaret,
and it was my first introduction to musical
theatre. Two particularly memorable
moments were when I was cast to sing
the
Marriage of Figaro
and when I was
entrusted by Philip to do the solos in the
Nelson Mass.
Was there anything about your
time at St Edward’s that you
felt prepared you for life as a
professional singer?
The general discipline of singing in a choir
and sight-reading really prepared me, and
Taking Flight:A Choral Career
Neville Creed, Director of Cultural Activities, interviews
Edward Price
(C, 1989-1994)
You joined the BBC Singers in
2001: what have been some of the
highlights over the last 14 years?
I auditioned for the BBC Singers, thinking
that I might get on the extras list. They
actually offered me the part, and I have been
there ever since! I had to sight-read some
Lennox Berkeley for my audition –
I still remember that day. An early highlight
was when I worked with Pierre Boulez,
who is incredible. We have often worked
with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and
we did a concert of the
Queen of Spades
in
St Petersburg. It was very daunting to sing
in Russian to a cast of Russians! It is such
a privilege to work with the BBC singers
and such incredibly talented conductors
and to travel so widely, as far as Hong Kong
and Japan.
Recently you performed with
the BBC singers at the RAF
Museum in Hendon as part of
the commemorations of the 75th
anniversary of the Battle of Britain,
what was that experience like?
I had not been to Hendon before, and
the hangar is fantastic. We were singing
music connected with flight and the RAF,
and in the background was a Phantom, a
F E A T U R E S
6
ST EDWARD’S
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taught me how to organise music around
a busy life. Choir practices were always
at lunchtimes on Thursdays and Fridays,
games afternoons, and I would always be
dashing about in between Field House,
lunch, games and Chapel! Philip taught
me something I still use today, which is to
take ten deep breaths before going
on stage.
Since leaving School in 1994, how
have you developed your career as
a singer?
I went up to Clare College, Cambridge
as a Choral Scholar for three years, and
really started to get to grips with singing
on a professional level. I had additional
lessons with David Lowe before leaving
School to help prepare me for transition,
and he continued to teach me while
I was at Cambridge. I stayed on as a
postgraduate at King’s Choir, which was
truly amazing. I was lucky eno¨gh to
have some solo work for the televised
performance! We travelled a lot and it
was great to work with large professional
orchestras. After leaving Cambridge I
wasn’t sure about making singing my full-
time career, so I started working with a
music agency run by John Boyden.
Performing at RAF Hendon