Edward Bell
Encyclopedia
Edward Bell is an English
singer-songwriter
, who has been active since 2003.
, performed in front of Princess Alexandra
for the Rose Trust. Highlights at Windsor included singing with José Carreras
, Mark Dobell and Joanne Lunn
.
On leaving St George's School in 2001, he was offered a Major Music Scholarship to Abingdon School
, but decided instead to take up an academic scholarship, and a music scholarship at St Edward's School, Oxford. While in Oxford, he was offered the opportunity to sing with The Sixteen
, Henry Herford
, and as a part-time tenor
for the Keble College Choir, Oxford under Simon Whalley. In 2005, Bell starred opposite the actress
, Pippa Bennett-Warner, in a five show production of Les Misérables
as Jean Valjean
.
On leaving Oxford in 2006, Bell joined a band, signed to Universal Records
. He left the band after a year to pursue a degree in music, resulting in studying in London, taking instruction at Guildhall School of Music and Drama
for some of his course.
As a songwriter, Bell has enjoyed success with his music played on BBC Radio Berkshire
, Time 106.6
, and most recently used his song "Two Continents" in the American-produced independent film
, Descansos
.
On 16 May 2009, he was awarded £15,000 to record his debut album
through financing website www.slicethepie.com, the youngest person to do so. He follows a group of musicians including; The Alps
, Lights Action, and Walk.Dontwalk. He was working on the album with Richard Causon who has worked with the Kings of Leon
and Ryan Adams
.
The living artists he would most want to duet with are Kate Rusby
and Seth Lakeman
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, who has been active since 2003.
Life and career
Bell became a probationer at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle in 1995, and was surpliced in 1996. A regular soloist from 1999 onwards, his first solo was "Domine Deus" from Vivaldi's GloriaGloria (Vivaldi)
Antonio Vivaldi wrote several settings of the Gloria. RV 589 is the most familiar and popular piece of sacred music by Vivaldi; however, he was known to have written at least three Gloria settings. Only two survive whilst the other is presumably lost and is only mentioned in the Kreuzherren...
, performed in front of Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is the youngest granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. She is the widow of Sir Angus Ogilvy...
for the Rose Trust. Highlights at Windsor included singing with José Carreras
José Carreras
Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini...
, Mark Dobell and Joanne Lunn
Joanne Lunn
- Professional career :Joanne Lunn studied at Royal College of Music, where she graduated and received the Tagore Gold Medal.Lunn performed in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, Gluck's operas Orfeo ed Euridice and Alceste, and in Verdi's Falstaff...
.
On leaving St George's School in 2001, he was offered a Major Music Scholarship to Abingdon School
Abingdon School
Abingdon School is a British day and boarding independent school for boys situated in Abingdon, Oxfordshire , previously known as Roysse's School. In 1998 a formal merger took place between Abingdon School and Josca's, a preparatory school four miles to the west at Frilford...
, but decided instead to take up an academic scholarship, and a music scholarship at St Edward's School, Oxford. While in Oxford, he was offered the opportunity to sing with The Sixteen
The Sixteen
The Sixteen are a choir and period instrument orchestra; founded by Harry Christophers in 1979.The group's special reputation for performing early English polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance, bringing fresh insights into Baroque and early Classical music and a diversity of 20th century...
, Henry Herford
Henry Herford
Henry Herford is a Scottish baritone singer.He read Classics and English at Cambridge University, and studied singing at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where he was awarded the Curtis Gold Medal. He is currently the RNCM's Tutor in French Song...
, and as a part-time tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
for the Keble College Choir, Oxford under Simon Whalley. In 2005, Bell starred opposite the actress
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, Pippa Bennett-Warner, in a five show production of Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
as Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean is the protagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables...
.
On leaving Oxford in 2006, Bell joined a band, signed to Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
. He left the band after a year to pursue a degree in music, resulting in studying in London, taking instruction at Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
for some of his course.
As a songwriter, Bell has enjoyed success with his music played on BBC Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Berkshire, as well as parts of North Hampshire, including Basingstoke. Radio Berkshire broadcasts on 94.6 , 95.4 , 104.1 and 104.4 FM from its studios at Caversham Park near Reading. The 104.1 FM signal is the strongest...
, Time 106.6
Time 106.6
Time 106.6 is a local radio station for East Berkshire, South Bucks, North Surrey and the Heathrow area of London. The station plays a variety of music from the latest songs to music from the 80s, 90s and 00s from various genres. The station strapline is "All Time Favourites"...
, and most recently used his song "Two Continents" in the American-produced independent film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Descansos
Descansos
Descansos is a 2009 American neo-realist film written and directed by Chris Roybal, his second feature film and first to be released. The drama features, in neo-realist fashion, an ensemble cast of professional and non-professional actors.The drama consists of eight vignettes that take you across...
.
On 16 May 2009, he was awarded £15,000 to record his debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
through financing website www.slicethepie.com, the youngest person to do so. He follows a group of musicians including; The Alps
The Alps (band)
The Alps are an English band from Greenwich, London. They have released five singles and one album so far, with the sixth single 'Obstacle Race' due for release January 2009. The Alps debut album 'Something I Mih Regret' released on 10 March 2008. The album was produced by Dave Allen...
, Lights Action, and Walk.Dontwalk. He was working on the album with Richard Causon who has worked with the Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion, Oklahoma but formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill , Ivan Nathan Followill and Michael Jared Followill Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion,...
and Ryan Adams
Ryan Adams
David Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...
.
The living artists he would most want to duet with are Kate Rusby
Kate Rusby
Kate Anna Rusby is an English folk singer and songwriter from Penistone, South Yorkshire. Sometimes known as The Barnsley Nightingale, she has headlined various British national folk festivals, and is regarded as one of the most famous English folk singers of contemporary times...
and Seth Lakeman
Seth Lakeman
Seth Bernard Lakeman is an English folk singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who is most often associated with the fiddle and tenor guitar, but has also mastered the viola and banjo...
.