Dublin-based Canadian soprano Catherine Redding, described as ‘warm, clear and impeccably controlled’ (The Irish Times), has performed internationally in opera, oratorio and recital. Her operatic roles include Oscar (A Masked Ball) and Zerlina/Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) with Cork’s Opera 2005, Barbarina (The Marriage of Figaro) and Emmie (Albert Herring) with Opera Project, UK and Sandman/Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel) with Longborough Festival Opera, UK. Oratorios include Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Requiem, Nees’ Magnificat, and Fauré’s Requiem in venues such as St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, the National Concert Hall, Dublin and Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. As a recitalist, Catherine’s performances in Canada, Italy, Austria, England and Ireland, have encompassed a repertoire of Baroque to contemporary works. Catherine has been broadcast on Ireland’s Lyric FM, and is featured as a soloist on award-winning Canadian composer Christopher Tyler Nickel’s CD, Rain.
Recent highlights include performances of Handel's Dixit Dominus, Mondonville's In Exitu Israel, and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with Resurgam and the Irish Baroque Orchestra, recitals at the University of Limerick, Hugh Lane Gallery, and Castalia Hall, and a concert of Bach, Handel and Reicha with The Czech Boys Choir and Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra. Catherine holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music, London and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Rachel Factor
Wicklow resident Rachel Factor studied piano and harpsichord at The Royal Irish Academy of Music, NUI Maynooth and later privately in London. She teaches extensively in County Wicklow with the KWETB, independent schools and is very excited to be part of this unique music programme in her locality. Rachel lectures in harpsichord performance at the Conservatory of Music, DIT Rathmines and is a local centre examiner at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
Her performance career has included performances with many of Ireland’s leading ensembles including The Irish Chamber Orchestra, Crash Ensemble, RTE Concert Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Cecilia and many others. She has performed at many festivals in Ireland, England and Belguim and has recorded concerts for Ireland’s classical radio station Lyric FM. Rachel was awarded a grant from Music Network and The Arts Council in 2010 which enabled her to purchase a harpsichord which is a predecessor of the piano