OUR STORY

In 2011, a group of young singers from Northern Ireland had the opportunity to work with internationally renowned countertenor Mark Chambers in preparation for a landmark Proms performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah in London’s Royal Albert Hall. The singers were so inspired by the experience of working among professional ensembles and soloists that they decided to establish their own ensemble in Northern Ireland, and so Sestina was born.

Under the direction of Mark Chambers, Sestina has quickly developed into an ensemble with a reputation for excellence and authenticity in the performance of early music as well as a fresh and innovative approach to programming. To date, Sestina has performed all the stage works of Henry Purcell (The Fairy Queen (2013), King Arthur (2014) and Dido and Aeneas (2016)), and has collaborated with some of the finest specialist early music practitioners in the world: His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts, The Monteverdi String Band (for their 2016 production of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610), Dutch violinist Johannes Leertouwer, and Irish Baroque Orchestra for productions of Handel’s Theodora (2018), Esther (2019) and Messiah (2019).

The support and development of aspiring professional singers from Northern Ireland and Ireland remains at the heart of Sestina’s activities, and our annual mentoring programme provides an immersive educational experience for young performers at various stages of their training and careers, giving them the opportunity to develop their craft by working alongside world-class professionals.

MEET THE TEAM

Musical Director

Mark Chambers

General Manager

Ciara Burnell

Administrator

Mairéad Nic Bhloscaidh

MUSICAL DIRECTOR

MARK CHAMBERS

Since leaving the Royal Northern College of Music in 1992, Mark Chambers has enjoyed a varied career both as a soloist and ensemble singer.  He has performed opera at the Royal Opera House, The Globe Theatre, Sansoucci Palace, Potsdam, Beijing, Jerusalem and New York. As an ensemble singer Mark has performed with Tenebrae, The Monteverdi Choir, The Gabrieli Consort, Gallicantus, Theatre of Voices and Alamire.  In the commercial world, Mark provided the Voice of the Ood for the BBC Dr Who series, and has appeared on soundtracks to many movies.  Mark currently lives in Buncrana, Co. Donegal and combines his singing career with teaching voice at the University of Birmingham, and as musical director of Sestina. 

THE BOARD

James Kelley Chairman

Irwin Thompson Treasurer

Irene Kingston Secretary

David Black Board member

Karenanne Coughlan-Pierse Board member

Rosie Brennan Board member

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Paul McCreesh Patron

Mark Allport President