shARING 26:’The Singing Actor’
Saturday 10th January 2026
Welcome
Our Sharing Events always prove to be a wonderful day of music making, in a fantastically supportive environment, so than you for coming and supporting our participants today, it really does make all the difference.
We’re delighted that Marienella Phillips is able to be with us again today, to explore what it means to be a singing actor, sharing techniques and strategies required improve our singing from a musical, dramatic, and imaginative viewpoint.
Concert Programme
Ruby Williams – I’d Do Anything (Bart)
Molly Ashby-Ridgeway – Castle On A Cloud (Shönberg)
Beki Reilly – Les berceaux (Fauré)
Amy Pilcher – One Hand, One Heart (Bernstein)
Rhys Thomas – Maria (Bernstein)
Emily Hughes – Colours Of The Wind (Menken)
Lilia Morley – I’d Give My Life For You (Shönberg)
Grace Livesy – Poor Wandering One (Sullivan)
Jack Chandrinos – My Way (Sinatra)
Marienella Phillips, Visiting Tutor
Marienella Phillips is a British-Filipino mezzo-soprano working across theatre, musical theatre, and opera. With a passion for performing nurtured early on, she earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music from the University of Bristol, before continuing her training at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. She has since performed with some of the UK’s leading companies—including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Donmar Warehouse, and Welsh National Opera—toured nationally, and appeared in the West End.
Recent credits include: Hamlet: Hail to the Thief, Love’s Labour's Lost (RSC), Henry V (Donmar Warehouse & NT Live), To Henry With Love (Princess Theatre Burnham-on-Sea), Ashes (Princess Theatre Burnham-on-Sea), The King & I (West End / UK & Ireland Tour), A Christmas Carol (The Lowry / Hope Mill Theatre), The Fabulist (Charing Cross Theatre)
Marienella is also official anthem singer for the Rugby Football Union and other large sporting events in the UK having sung the English and Welsh National Anthems at various stadiums including Twickenham for the Six Nations: England vs Ireland 2024, Wembley for the Women's FA Cup 2024: Manchester UTD vs Tottenham, and Ashton Gate for the Red Roses vs Wales 2022. Winner of the Adelina Patti and Dolan Evans Prizes 2019 and Sir Ian Stoutzker Prize Finalist 2021 (RWCMD).
Jack Bowtell, Singing Teacher
Originally hailing from the Ribble Valley in Lancashire, British baritone Jack Bowtell, graduated his BMus in Vocal Performance in July 2018, from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. After progressing on to The David Seligman Opera School, under the tutelage of Donald Maxwell, Jack graduated in July 2020 with distinction in MA Advanced Operatic Performance. Jack has been privileged to work with such eminent Welsh companies such as Music Theatre Wales and BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Welsh National Opera and more recently Opera Holland Park and Longborough Festival Opera. Alongside his operatic work, Jack has an established a strong teaching base in the city, and is a sought-after singing teacher offering lessons from his Cardiff studio.
Amy Reynolds, Accompanist
Amy Reynolds, born in Bristol and now based in Cardiff, is a dedicated pianist and accompanist. She is a double graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. During her studies, Amy worked with James Willshire. Prior to her studies at RWCMD, Amy studied with Melanie Spanswick. Her passion for vocal music, particularly opera, led her to specialise in vocal accompaniment for her Master’s degree under Michael Pollock.
Amy is a piano teacher at The King’s School Gloucester and Clifton College Bristol. She is an accompanist for The Forget Me Not Chorus, a group that supports people with dementia and their families. Amy has worked alongside Jack, taking choir rehearsals in several care homes in and around Cardiff. She is also the accompanist for Barry Community Choir, and a choir leader for the Aloud Charity and Tenovus ‘Sing With Us’. As a young professional, Amy is actively working to ensure the future of classical music for the next generation through her teaching and community involvement.