R O Music

Richard Osborne and Gwyneth Thomas : Concert, Choral and Opera

Richard is an experienced baritone soloist and choral singer. While an Engineering student in the 1960s, he was also a part-time student at the Guildhall School of Music studying with Arthur Reckless. During that time he sang in the choir of Hampstead Parish Church and with Hampstead Choral Society, both under Martindale Sidwell, where he met his wife Gwyneth Thomas, also a professional singer (soprano). Subsequent teachers were Olive Quantrill in Ipswich and Barbara McGuire MBE of Birmingham School of Music (now Royal Birmingham Conservatoire).

Both Richard and Gwyneth have been professional soloists since 1970s until retirement, performing with with various choirs and choral societies in East Anglia, the West Midlands and beyond, building an extensive repertoire encompassing the major classical choral works. From the early 1980s until their 'retirement' in 2008, Richard and Gwyneth appeared regularly as soloists for their local choir Alcester Singers, with whom they continue to maintain a close contact.

As a choral singer, Richard has sung with many small groups, chamber and church choirs. He was a member of the Aldeburgh Festival Singers in the 1970s, and a regular member and occasional soloist of Birmingham's Ex Cathedra during the 1980s and 1990s, taking part in many concerts, broadcasts, recordings and tours.

Church choirs since Hampstead have included Ipswich St Mary-le-Tower, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, and Holy Trinity Church, Stratford upon Avon (Shakespeare’s church), where in 1982 he co-founded their Friends of the Music, serving as its first chairman. In 2005 Richard introduced Plainsong Compline to become regular concluding service of Alcester’s St Nicholas Night fair.

Gwyneth, having attained her ARCM in Suffolk, continued vocal studies full time at Birmingham School of Music with Barbara McGuire MBE, Ingrid Surgenor and Paul Hamburger, graduating with performing, recital, and teaching diplomas. She was a leading member of the Opera School and won many prizes. Solo roles have included Micaela, Donna Elvira, The Vixen, Giulietta, First Lady etc. She has sung with various opera companies including Kent Opera and Mid Wales Opera.

Both Richard and Gwyneth were members of the chorus of Mid Wales Opera from its inception in 1989 until 2001.

Although no longer active professionally, both continue to be involved in local event management, offering advice from their wealth of experience.

Richard ‘s audio and video music recordings published:

The Ballad of Oversley Hill (a unique vintage recording of a song by Alcester composer W H Jephcott)

Captain Noah’s Rainbow Song (recorded May 2020 durng UK Covid lockdown)

Singing exercises in 5 simple steps (recorded for Alcester Singers May 2020 during UK Covid lockdown)

Website design by RO - revised October 2020