Russell started his singing life as a chorister in his local church in Kidderminster; from there his passion for singing and music in general grew. He graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a BMus and MMus and still continues to study voice under Mr Ian Kennedy.

 

Russell has been a major contributor to charities, internationally and in his hometown of Kidderminster.  One major highlight was playing the part of Marius in the West End show ‘Les Miserables’ and raising over £10,000 for Kidney Cancer UK.  A local Kidderminster charity, KEMP Hospice has also seen Russell’s support over a number of years with three very successful Young Proms concerts.

 

Finding a knack to entertain on a large scale, Russell took his vocal quartet “DARE” in 2005 & 2006 the open seas to entertain on a cruise ship with the Swan Hellenic company. Also in October 2005 along with his young proms colleagues, he was very privileged to sing solo at Sir Digby Jones, Director of the CBI’S, 50th birthday party. Russell also had his first opportunity to sing with the Birmingham symphony orchestra in May, in their prestigious symphony hall. This was followed by working with the English Symphony Orchestra on the Seven Lieder of Sir Edward Elgar for the 2006 festival. Russell is hopefull to perform at the festival again in 2007 with the full song cycle, and to apply for a concert platform at the Wigmore hall, London.   

 

With a keen interest in the Savoy operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, Russell has worked extensively to bring them to the fore of the modern musical stage. He has performed the roles of Frederic in The pirates of Penzance, Ralph in H.M.S Pinafore in the prestigious Jersey Opera House, The Defendant in Trial by jury and Marco in The Gondoliers. One of his most exciting ventures in this field was giving performances of the rare, full length version of Sullivan’s three man opera, Cox and Box, to venues in and around London. This project was undertaken again last October, this time in Jersey.

 
As a classical soloist Russell has sung the tenor roles in Handels Messiah and the King shall rejoice, Hydens Nelson Mass and Creation, Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, Stainer’s Crucifixion, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, the Mozart Vespers, Mass in C and Requiem and the title role in Brittens St Nicholas. Opera roles include Tamino in The Magic Flute, The Witch in Hansel and Gretel,  Pedrillo in The Abduction from the Seraglio,  Camille in The Merry Widow, Fisherman in Peter Grimes  with Sir Trevor Nunn and Sir Simon Rattle, and the Second Brother in 2005 world premiere of Dr Laurence Romans Isabella and the pot of basil at Covent Garden and the  Buxton opera festival.

 

 

 

 

As an active member of ensembles, Russell is involved with the newly founded AKA opera group, offering unaccompanied, classic opera tunes in and around London, this new and exciting venture is set to rocket off very soon! This has also been combined with Russell’s founding of AKA barbershop, whose reputation is rapidly spreading. Russell is also a very active teacher in his home town of Kidderminster with many private singing pupils, and has recently become musical director for a branch of stagecoach theatre school, and is just about to perform the smash hit Queen Musical We Will Rock You. Russell keeps up his singing work as a regular deputy for the Queens Guards Chappell London.

 

Future engagements include an evening for the Kidderminster male choir, Tobias in Sweeny Todd on tour, Trial by Jury at the Buxton opera festival, an evening of Elgar Song in Kidderminster, and donning a bear costume in the primary chord’s Adaptation of the jungle book!