Christopher Purves leads Samling Masterclass
British baritone Christopher Purves will guide rising stars of classical music in their quest for excellence at the Samling Artist Programme’s public masterclass at Marchmont House on Saturday 8 March. Purves recently appeared in Adriana Mater by Kaya Saariaho which won the Best Opera Recording at the 2025 Grammy Awards. He enjoys a versatile career on opera stages across the world, excelling in repertoire from Bach and Handel oratorio to heavyweight roles in Verdi and Wagner operas. He is joined by the pianist Simon Lepper, who regularly appears on BBC Radio 3 and is an official accompanist for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. He works extensively with the world’s greatest singers and will share the art of song from the pianist’s perspective. Shakespearean actor James Garnon completes the team, bringing a special focus on living inside the text.
Two singers from Scotland have made it through the highly competitive audition process to win places on the prestigious Samling Artist Programme. Alongside four other singers and two pianists, they’ll spend an intensive week of study and musical exploration at Marchmont House before showcasing some of the work in this final public masterclass. Bass Joshua McCullough from Aberdeen is a former member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland and the Dunedin Consort’s Young Artist programme. He is now studying on the Masters programme at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and looking forward to developing his operatic career. He said ‘I'm really looking forward to spending a week in residence on the Samling Artist Programme, and the chance to have a run of days with such a focused purpose. It's such a unique opportunity, with similar offerings often not available to Scottish singers without venturing further South, and I feel lucky to be part of the small handful of musicians attending the course.’ Award-winning mezzo-soprano Lea Shaw came to Glasgow from Colorado to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She is now an Associate Artist with Scottish Opera and is the company’s Education Artist in Residence.
Karon Wright MBE, Artistic and Executive Director of Samling Institute said “Christopher Purves is an outstanding and versatile musician and I’m delighted to welcome him to Samling Institute for the first time to work with these eight outstanding young artists. Many of our programme alumni have gone onto impressive careers across the world so our masterclasses offer audiences in the Borders the opportunity to say ‘I saw them first’.”
Details Samling Artist Programme in Masterclass. Saturday 8 March 2025, 1.30–4.30pm Marchmont House, Greenlaw, Duns, Berwickshire, TD10 9YL https://www.samling.org.uk/events/samling-in-masterclass-march-2025
Tickets are £25 and return minibus transport is available from Berwick-upon-Tweed Railway Station for £15
Photo credit: Chis Gloag