< Previous20 Dominique Larose FIRST SOLOIST Katharine Lee DANCER Heather Lehan JUNIOR SOLOIST Dominique was born in San Francisco, California and trained at the Ayako School of Ballet, Tanz Akademie Zürich and the Academy of Northern Ballet’s Professional Graduate Programme. She joined Northern Ballet in 2014. Katharine is Korean American and graduated from English National Ballet School after studying at The Washington School of Ballet. She joined Northern Ballet in 2021. Heather is from Kitchener in Ontario, Canada. She trained at Canada’s National Ballet School and joined Northern Ballet in 2017. Sponsor Mr Jolyon & Mrs Carol Harrison Amber Lewis LEADING SOLOIST George Liang DANCER Harriet Marden CORYPHÉE Born in Brisbane, Australia, Amber trained at Ecole Studios and The Washington School of Ballet. She danced with The Washington Ballet, Ballet Arizona and Hong Kong Ballet before joining Northern Ballet in 2022. Sponsor Linda & John Topott George is from Taipei, Taiwan and trained with the New Zealand School of Dance, Canada’s National Ballet School and I Shin Dance Studio. He previously danced with The National Ballet of Canada and joined Northern Ballet in 2018. Sponsor Paul & Diane Cusworth Harriet was born in Rochford, Essex and raised in Bournemouth. She trained at the Jo Heynes Performing Arts School in Bournemouth and at Central School of Ballet before joining the Academy of Northern Ballet’s Professional Graduate Programme. She joined Northern Ballet in 2015. Sponsor Dean Eggleston Kaho Masumoto DANCER Gavin McCaig JUNIOR SOLOIST Aerys Merrill DANCER Kaho is from Tokyo, Japan and trained at Kishibe Ballet Studio and English National Ballet School. She Joined Northern Ballet in 2022. Gavin is from Motherwell near Glasgow and trained at The Dance School of Scotland and English National Ballet School. He joined Northern Ballet in 2014. Sponsor The Sterry Family Foundation The Dancers – Our Collaborative Artists Aerys Merrill is from Richmond, Virginia and studied with Richmond Ballet through high school. Aerys later attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts receiving a B.F.A in Ballet Performance. Aerys previously danced with Atlanta Ballet in their second company and with Ballet Memphis before joining Northern Ballet in 2020. Sponsor Louise & Philip Keller21 Aurora Mostacci DANCER Julie Nunès DANCER Alessia Petrosino DANCER Aurora was born in Torino, Italy. She started dancing in Torino and then continued her training at the Royal Conservatory of Dance Mariemma in Spain. She previously danced with The Washington Ballet and Finnish National Ballet. She joined Northern Ballet in 2021. Julie is from La Ciotat in France and trained at the National Dance School in Marseille and Central School of Ballet. Upon graduation, she joined the Academy of Northern Ballet’s Professional Graduate Programme. She was part of the corps de ballet in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, Stockholm and joined Northern Ballet in 2018. Alessia is from Italy and graduated the English National Ballet School in 2020. She then moved to France to join the Ballet de l’Opéra de Metz. She joined Northern Ballet in 2021. Aurora Piccininni DANCER Kevin Poeung LEADING SOLOIST Abigail Prudames PREMIER DANCER Aurora is from Italy. She trained at the Conservatory of Valencia and on the Professional Graduate Programme at the Academy of Northern Ballet. She joined Northern Ballet in 2019. Kevin is from Montpellier in France. He joined Northern Ballet in 2012 having trained at English National Ballet School. Sponsor Russell Race Abigail is from Harrogate in North Yorkshire and joined Northern Ballet in 2011. She trained at The Royal Ballet Lower School and Elmhurst School for Dance (Upper School). Sponsor The Sterry Family Foundation Bruno Serraclara DANCER Archie Sherman DANCER Saeka Shirai FIRST SOLOIST Bruno is from Barcelona and started dancing at Escola de Dansa Marisa Yudes in Barcelona at age eight before continuing his training at Académie Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo from 2015 until 2020. He joined Northern Ballet in 2020. Archie is from Kent and trained at Hilton Hall Dance Academy before joining The Royal Ballet School. He joined Northern Ballet in 2020. Sponsor Stephen Griffith MBE Saeka is from Osaka, Japan and trained with the Yuki Ballet Studio and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. She worked with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet for four years and with Poznan Opera Ballet for two and won a silver medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition in 2016. She joined Northern Ballet in 2022.22 Harry Skoupas DANCER Kirica Takahashi DANCER Joseph Taylor PRINCIPAL SOLOIST Charalampos (Harry) is from Athens, Greece. He began dancing at a local ballet school before moving to the UK to train at Elmhurst Ballet School. As a student he worked with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Aalto Ballett Theater Essen in Germany before working with Opera Wrocławska, Poland from 2017 to 2021. He joined Northern Ballet in 2022. Sponsor Kleinwort Hambros Kirica is from Tokyo, Japan and trained at Elmhurst Ballet School, English National Ballet School and European School of Ballet Trainee Programme. After a season with Birmingham Royal Ballet, she joined Northern Ballet in 2021. Joseph is from Skegness, Lincolnshire. He trained at the Janice Sutton Theatre School and Elmhurst School for Dance (Upper School). He joined Northern Ballet in 2012. Sponsor Patricia Swallow Andrew Tomlinson DANCER Stefano Varalta DANCER Andrew was born in Leeds and trained on the Academy of Northern Ballet’s Centre for Advanced Training Programme and at Canada’s National Ballet School. He previously performed with The National Ballet of Canada and joined Northern Ballet in 2017. Stefano is from Verona, Italy and trained at Balletto di Verona. He graduated in Zürich and joined a Trainee Programme in Amsterdam. He joined Northern Ballet in 2022. For dancer biographies visit northernballet.com/dancers The Dancers – Our Collaborative Artists MANCHESTERLIVERPOOLLEEDSBIRMINGHAMEDINBURGH BISHOPSGATE COMING TO LONDON 2023 HOME TO THE AUTHENTIC Rodizio Dining Experience23 Joseph Taylor and Sean Bates in The Great Gatsby. Photo Emma Kauldhar. MANCHESTERLIVERPOOLLEEDSBIRMINGHAMEDINBURGH BISHOPSGATE COMING TO LONDON 2023 HOME TO THE AUTHENTIC Rodizio Dining Experience24 Music Staff Daniel is the Associate Conductor of Northern Ballet. Since joining the company in 2016, he has embarked on national tours of ballets by David Nixon CBE, Cathy Marston, Kenneth Tindall, Drew McOnie, Daniel de Andrade & Jean-Christophe Maillot. Daniel is a regular Guest Conductor for English National Ballet. To date, he has conducted both The Nutcracker and Swan Lake at London Coliseum, and will open Akram Khan’s Creature at Sadler’s Wells in 2023. Daniel has also worked with Scottish Ballet, the BBC Concert Orchestra and Manchester Camerata. British conductor Jonathan Lo is Music Director of Northern Ballet, Music Director of the Australian Ballet, and Staff Conductor at the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. He was a Conducting Fellow with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Rambert Dance Company, and has returned regularly as a guest conductor for both companies. Other guest engagements include Dutch National Ballet, Cape Town City Ballet, Zürich Ballet and Scottish Ballet, as well as the BBC Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta and the Gabrieli Consort. Jonathan has worked with some of the world’s leading choreographers including David Bintley, Hans van Manen, Cathy Marston, Christopher Wheeldon and Crystal Pite. Jonathan Lo MUSIC DIRECTOR Daniel Parkinson ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR American conductor Lauren Wasynczuk is currently completing her Master of Music in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music. She was Cover/Assistant Conductor with Northern Ballet Spring 2022 and makes her ballet conducting debut with the company this season with The Great Gatsby. Since moving to England in Autumn 2021, her professional work has included assistantships with the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Psappha and Opera North. Upcoming engagements this season include conducting the UK premiere of Andrés Martín’s Double Bass Concerto No. 1 with the BBC Philharmonic and serving as Conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Lauren Wasynczuk GUEST CONDUCTOR Born in Scotland, Geoffrey studied with the great violinist Nathan Milstein. Leader for the orchestras of Scottish Ballet and the new D’Oyly Carte Opera Company, he has guest-led for: Welsh National Opera; English National Ballet; Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; Ulster Orchestra; Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has broadcast concertos by Tchaikovsky and Lalo for the BBC. Geoffrey Allan ORCHESTRA LEADER25 Ewan received his Music Masters from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and was invited to be Répétiteur Junior Fellow. Collaborating with many distinguished artsong and operatic soloists, Ewan has also worked as an accompanist for: Opera North; RNCM; Leeds College of Music; Liverpool Philharmonic; The Hallé; Leeds Lieder Festival; and Yehudi Menuhin’s Live Music Now. Ewan acts as Music Director for Northern Ballet’s children’s ballets. Andrew received his doctorate as a Fulbright scholar from the Eastman School of Music (New York) after gaining his MMus and BMus at the RNCM on full scholarship. He has performed across Europe and the USA, teaches piano for Leeds Conservatoire and Yorkshire Young Musicians and is an examiner for ABRSM. Andrew recently released his first album, Dithis, with his sister Gaelic Singer Joy Dunlop. For full biographies please visit northernballet.com/our-people Colin has played for The Royal Ballet, Scottish Ballet and Northern Ballet and has taught students in playing for dance with the Dancing Piano course in London and at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Other recent highlights include the role of music director on an original three man theatre, commissions for choirs and solo piano works, coaching the students of the Future Talent charity and accompanying community choirs. Andrew Dunlop HEAD OF MUSIC & COMPANY PIANIST Ewan Gilford COMPANY PIANIST & MUSIC DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S BALLETS Colin J Scott COMPANY PIANIST Peter graduated as a dancer from the Australian Ballet School. In 2013, after a short but enjoyable career as a dancer, he moved to London to study at the Royal College of Music, where he was on full scholarship. Peter has worked as a ballet pianist since 2018, playing for classes and rehearsals with companies such as The Royal Ballet and Matthew Bourne New Adventures. He is also active as a composer, and his compositions have been used in choreographies by both The Australian Ballet and Queensland Ballet. Peter Wilson GUEST COMPANY PIANIST Become a Northern Ballet supporter and you can be at the heart of our story Our mission is to share the joy of dance with everyone, everywhere. Alongside the world-class ballet we create for stage and screen, we champion the power of the arts in education, celebrate accessible dance through our wide range of courses and train the dancers of tomorrow at our studios in Leeds. As a registered charity, we need your help to bring world- class ballet to the widest possible audience. With your support we can continue to tell our story. Kirica Takahashi in rehearsal for The Great Gatsby. Photo Emily Nuttall. Become a Patron or Benefactor As a Patron or Benefactor of Northern Ballet you can be at the heart of everything we do. Keep up to speed on life behind the scenes with regular updates, invitations to inspiring insight events and much more. northernballet.com/memberships Give a one-off or regular gift Donations help underpin every aspect of our work. Funding outreach projects, giving opportunities to those taking their first steps as a dancer, training the next generation in our Academy, and supporting the creation of dazzling new ballets for the stage and screen. northernballet.com/make-a-donation Leave a gift in your Will Remembering Northern Ballet in your Will is a very special way to share your passion for dance with the next generation and support the future of the Company for years to come. A gift of any size will help create new productions, revive much-loved favourites and train the dancers of the future. northernballet.com/legacies Corporate Partnerships Align your brand with quality and creativity by creating a unique partnership with one of the UK’s leading cultural brands. northernballet.com/corporate-partnerships Trusts and Foundations Support from Trusts and Foundations makes a huge difference to our work and helps us carry out our inspiring and innovative artistic, educational and accessible projects. northernballet.com/trusts-and-foundations Every gift we receive supports our mission to make ballet accessible to everyone, everywhere. Thank you to all our generous supporters who are helping us on our way. Discover more at northernballet.com/support-us Contact the Development team at development@northernballet.com27 For full biographies please visit northernballet.com/our-sinfonia First Violin Geoffrey Allan Winona Fifield William Chadwick Helen Boardman Raimonda Koço Second Violin Ed Pether > Simon Gilks < ^ Laura Concar Jacob Lay > < Rebecca Smith ^ Viola Rosalyn Cabot Hannah Horton Cello Alexander Volpov Toby Turton Double Bass Toby Hughes < ^ Hannah Turnbull > < ^ Ria Nolan > Nathan Knight < Flute Karen Wong > Ian Mullin > Claire Overbury < Frederico Paixão ^ Sarah Bull Oboe Mary Gilbert Clarinet Joanne Rozario Alan Asquith Bassoon Paul Boyes < ^ French Horn Nicholas Wolmark David Horwich Trumpet Tracey Redfern > ^ Angela Wheelan < Gary Ritson Trombone Robert Moseley > < Tom Berry > ^ Timpani James Bower Percussion John Melbourne Harp Tamara Young Piano/Keyboard Colin Scott Northern Ballet believes that live music enhances performance and is committed to music being played live for almost all of its productions. Northern Ballet Sinfonia travel the length and breadth of the UK with the Company playing for over 100 performances every year. The full Sinfonia is made up of 27 players and is available to play concerts and performances outside the main tour. If you would like to book the Sinfonia for a concert or to find out more about workshops or recordings, please contact: sinfonia@northernballet.com 0113 220 8000 Sinfonia Supporters Nick Lyle & Nellie Nelson Northern Ballet Sinfonia Concerts & Orchestra Manager Ciarán Campbell Guest/Extra > Leeds < Sheffield ^ London Details correct at time of Publication Jonathan Lo with Northern Ballet Sinfonia. Photo Amy Kelly.28 With grateful thanks to Principal Trusts & Foundations Trusts & Foundations Asda Foundation The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust Backstage Trust Benefact Group Bruce Wake Charitable Trust Charles Brotherton Trust The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust Evan Cornish Foundation Garrick Charitable Trust The George A Moore Foundation The Granada Foundation Green Hall Foundation Holbeck Charitable Trust Hull & East Riding Charitable Trust Idlewild Trust The Kenneth Hargreaves Charitable Trust The Linden Charitable Trust Maria Björnson Memorial Fund Maxwell Morrison Trust PRS Foundation R E Chadwick Charitable Trust Rhododendron Trust Sir George Martin Trust Sir John Fisher Foundation The Souter Charitable Trust Sovereign Health Care Community Programme The Spectacle Makers’ Charity The Steel Charitable Trust The Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust Wade’s Charity Yorkshire Charity Clay Days The Audrey and Stanley Burton Charitable Trust29 Our Benefactors & Donors Denise Ashworth Dianne Balmforth Andy & Kath Barff Catherine Boyle Liz & Terry Bramall Jilly Burrows Jeremy & Martine Burton Angela Bush Kate Carroll Peter Claydon Paul & Diane Cusworth Kate Dugdale Neil Eckersley Dean Eggleston Bernard Eke Christine & Peter Farmer Jennifer & Bill Fawkner-Corbett Kate & Andrew Fisher Jane & Alan Foale G.F. Armitage Charitable Trust Stephen Griffith MBE Lorraine Hallam Di & Tim Hare Adrian Harris Mr Jolyon & Mrs Carol Harrison John & Maggie Hayes Gwyneth Hughes & Chris Brown Elizabeth Jackson Juliet Jowitt DL The Keller Family Charitable Trust Julie Kenny DBE, DL Imogen Knight Ida Levine Clive & Virginia Lloyd The London Ballet Circle Judith Macdonald Jo McLaren Ann Meyrick Maxwell Morrison Kyla & Andy Mullins Sarah & Bruce Noble Kevin O’Hare CBE Guy Perricone Alexandra Perricone Brewer Charles & Fiona Prest Russell Race The Earl & Countess of Scarbrough Richard Stephens The Sterry Family Foundation Patricia Swallow Sally Thrussell Linda & John Topott Helen Williams Howard & Clodagh Woods and those who wish to remain anonymous Sinfonia Supporters Nick Lyle & Nellie Nelson With grateful thanks to Corporate Sponsors Platinum Level Sponsors Gold Level Sponsors Studio Indigo ARCHITECTS & INTERIOR DESIGNERSNext >