After Silence - A Music Afternoon with Soprano Erin Nizolak

We are delighted to welcome soprano Erin Nizolak to Stansted House for an afternoon of music accompanied by pianist Richard Dewland, violinist Deborah Gatland and mezzo-soprano Bridget Dean in their performance After Silence.

Erin Nizolak is an American soprano from Seattle. She earned her Bachelor of Music with a minor in English from Western Washington University, where she performed in choral concerts, art song recitals, opera scenes, and premiered a role in a newly composed operetta. She served as a church cantor, finding in sacred music a space of discipline and devotion. After graduation, her family travelled to South Korea, Germany, and now England. Throughout these travels, and amid the joyful uproar of raising five children, music remained a steady thread.

Erin returned to solo performance this past October at St Faith’s. She is grateful for the chance to lift her voice and share in the beauty of live music.

Richard Dewland, a Bristol-born and Birmingham Conservatoire Graduate, works as a freelance musician in Hampshire. As an organist, pianist, flautist, singer and composer, his professional engagements are broad and varied; Head of Music at Boundary Oak school, organist and Director of Music at St Faith’s Church Lee-on-Solent, private tutor, organ recitalist and published composer of Liturgical music.

Deborah Gatland is a violinist with a diverse career including classical, folk and Americana styles. She is a regular player with the Bossard String Quartet, local orchestras and she plays fiddle with the South coast folk band The Courtiers. Deborah studied music with Peter Rhodes whilst he was Head of Music at South Downs College. It was whilst studying under the guidance of Bulgarian violin/viola professor Devorina Gamalova that Deborah discovered a love of Spanish music, namely Sarasate’s Spanish dances. This inspired her to study languages at the University of Portsmouth, alongside her violin studies. After her degree, Deborah spent three years on tour with a leading British folk band, playing major folk festivals in Britain and on the continent. Highlights of this time included performances at Glastonbury and the Skaagen Festival in Denmark.

Bridget Dean is a mezzo-soprano for whom singing has always been a part of life. Fortunate to have supportive music teachers in both primary and secondary schools, she received training and opportunities to perform from an early age. Over the years, she has sung in London at all the main concert venues and with local choirs wherever she's lived. Never turning down an opportunity to sing, she has sung opera, with folk bands and small chorale groups as well as solo work. She is a Worship Leader for the contemporary service at St Faith's Church, Lee-on-the-Solent, where she also plays clarinet, recorder and Irish whistles.

This event includes light refreshments.