London’s leading classical-crossover girl group, Ida Girls London,
are releasing their Les Misérables medley Stars on iTunes and YouTube,
in support of the UK charity, Help Musicians
On Thursday 16 July, London’s leading classical-crossover girl group, Ida Girls London, are releasing their new medley Stars, featuring songs
All proceeds from downloads of the single on iTunes will go to Help Musicians. This UK charity looks after professional musicians of all genres, and all stages of their career, supporting them at times of crisis, but also at times of opportunity.
The video for Stars will premiere on Official London Theatre’s YouTube channel at 10am on Thursday 16 July, and on The Ida Girls YouTube channel at 6pm.
The Ida Girls – Georgi Mottram, Wendy Carr, Jasmine Faulkner and Sarah Vaughan – originally created and performed Stars for a fundraising concert at Leicester Haymarket Theatre. This is the first time they have released it more widely. The singers recorded their parts of the video individually during lockdown from their homes in Aberdeenshire, Jersey and London, and then produced the video in-house. Musical arrangement is by Wendy Carr.
The video for Stars intersperses performances by Ida with beautiful photographs of much-loved theatre venues and concert halls where musicians would normally be performing. These images were kindly provided by The Theatres Trust, the national charity that campaigns to protect theatre buildings for current and future generations.
Georgi Mottram said: “Everyone is feeling the impact of Coronavirus in some way, including musicians. Communities all over the UK have come together to raise money for the NHS and charities. Their generosity is humbling and it inspired us to give something back. With our live performances postponed for the foreseeable future, including shows at Kings Theatre Portsmouth, Aynhoe Park, Buckingham Palace and further afield in Japan and Australia, we felt moved to use our voices for good. We hope that by releasing Stars in aid of Help Musicians we can not only lift spirits but also raise funds for the charity’s invaluable work.”
The Ida Girls’ impressive versatility within these musical genres have seen them performing their mesmerising show across the continents, from the West End to headlining Australian Festivals (Noosa ALIVE). Having trained at some of the world’s leading conservatoires, the girls’ classical flare brings a unique quality to every song. Within the UK they performed at West End LIVE in Trafalgar Square to 40,000 people in consecutive years, The Other Palace and performed on BBC One. Ida were Classic Brit Award nominees in 2018 and also released their critically acclaimed Christmas album Believe which achieved success in the Official Classical UK Charts. Ida have most recently performed their sold-out show Believe at Jersey Opera House, performed for the Governor of Jersey at Government House and have made their Windsor Castle debut for Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. https://www.idagirls.
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS
PRESS CONTACT
Alison Duguid, Press & PR
07934 375492
SOCIAL MEDIA
Twitter: @idagirlslondon / Ins
HELP MUSICIANS: Help Musicians is an independent UK charity for professional musicians of all genres, from starting out through to retirement. They help at times of crisis, but also at times of opportunity, giving people the extra support they need at a crucial stage that could make or break their career. Registered charity No. 228089. https://www.
THE THEATRES TRUST: The Theatres Trust is the national charity that campaigns to protect theatre buildings for current and future generations. We provide free advice about theatre buildings to theatre operators, councils and people campaigning to save their local theatre. We are currently fundraising to offer more grants to smaller theatres to cover the costs of reopening after the lockdown. http://www.
IDA GIRLS LONDON (often known simply as IDA)
GEORGI MOTTRAM
Georgi Mottram is a Jersey born Soprano who trained in Opera at one London’s leading conservatoires. Georgi’s unique versatility as an artist has seen her performing in Opera Galas alongside Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to making her West End Debut (Adelphi Theatre, Charing Cross Theatre), Broadways ‘54 Below’ performing lead roles in London, one of which had a Royal Premiere at The Rose Theatre in Kingston. She has performed in many Operas notably playing The Empress in The Empresses Feet at The Barbican, Cupid in Orpheus in the Underworld Blackheath Halls. Headlining a concert at St Johns Smith Square with Kerry Ellis, she was also the soloist in Elijah at St Georges Chapel Windsor. As a Soprano Soloist she has performed at The Liberation Prom with the Jersey Symphony Orchestra conducted by Philip Ellis. She performed alongside Keven and Karen Clifton (Strictly Come Dancing stars) at The Glitterball Prom conducted by Gavin Sutherland. Georgi supported Russell Watson, Rhydian and Kerry Ellis at The Proms on Thames with London Philharmonic Orchestra. In the International Music festival she sang Second Soprano with Elizabeth Watts, Rob Murray, and Graeme Danby in Bach’s B minor Mass.
Recording for Magic FM radio she also sang alongside Kathryn Jenkins and Alfie Boe in Classic FM’s Charity single. At the Jersey Opera House Georgi has headlined Broadway Galas alongside Dominic Ferris and Rodney Clark, performed for West End on the Rock, played Cosette in Les Misérables and many more.
Her TV appearances include singing for Channel 4, BBC One and she sang for ITV Channel TV and BBC News for a 75th Liberation Day special.
Most recently asked by the Government of Jersey to lead an island wide singing campaign. She now hosts the Pride of Jersey awards alongside ex Chelsea and England footballer Graeme Le Saux. Georgi was the supporting Soprano Soloist for G4 on their Back for Good tour 2016, and their Love Songs tour in 2017 and their tour in 2018.
WENDY CARR
Originally from the North-East of Scotland, Wendy Carr studied classical singing at Leeds College of Music [under Mary Plazas and Paul Nilon], from which she graduated in 2011 with First Class Honours and the Douglas Robinson Memorial Prize for Opera. She then went on to gain 2 years’ professional experience with Leeds-based company, Young Opera Venture, performing at a number of venues around Yorkshire including the Northern Ballet Theatre (Leeds), Theatre Royal (Wakefield) and Lawrence Batley Theatre (Huddersfield) in a number of roles including Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro), Frasquita (Carmen) and Anne Page (The Merry Wives of Windsor).
She then went on to study acting on the 1-year Professional Acting Course at Drama Studio London, and since has performed regularly in London, including the London production of Princess Ida, Closer Than Ever and A Well-Remembered Voice, and various cabarets and special guest appearances at The Other Palace, Live at Zedel, The Pheasantry and Leicester Square Theatre.
SARAH VAUGHAN
Dubliner born and bred, Sarah Vaughan studied at the National University of Ireland graduating with a BA (hons) in Music, whilst training under some of the top vocal coaches in the US, UK and Ireland.
Performing regularly both at home and abroad, highlights include: Cinderella in Cinderella (Plymouth Theatre Royal, Wycombe Swan & Venue Cymru); Ripper Street (BBC), Princess Apricot/Jill in Jack & the Beanstalk (Alhambra Theatre & Wolverhampton Grand), Wom in Exceptional Wom (Josh Nolan), Anne Shelton in The Code (Little Glass Pictures), Women of Ireland (lead singer, US/Canada Tour), Young Sally in Follies, Belle in Beauty & the Beast, Whiskey in the Jar – the Musical (World Premiere), Helen in Here Comes Love (World Premiere), Brenda Blossom in Hollywood Pinafore, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, Yum-Yum in Hot Mikado, Belle in A Christmas Carol, Cunégonde in Candide, The Magic Flute, Norma, L’elisir d’Amore and La Traviata.
Recordings include: Pass on the Rainbow-NHS (The Rainbow Collective), The Forget Me Not Song (Alzheimer’s Society), Eileen (New World Records), Molly Bloom in Songs of Rejoicing (East Coast FM).
JASMINE FAULKNER
Soprano Jasmine Faulkner recently graduated from the renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under the tutelage of Marylin Rees. Her performances have taken her internationally to Switzerland as well as a number of prestigious venues throughout the UK. These include St Martin in the Fields, Charlton House, Milton Court Concert Hall and The Guard’s Chapel.
During her time at Guildhall she had the great opportunity to work with artists such as Sarah Walker, Clive Timms, Dominic Wheeler, Jane Manning, Dinah Stabb and Victoria Newlyn. Her roles include The Gamekeepers Wife, Pepik and Frog in The Cunning Little Vixen by Janacek, the Pie Seller in the wold premiere of Julian Phillip’s opera The Tale of Januarie, conducted by Dominic Wheeler and directed by Martin Lloyd-Evans, Erste Knabe in The Magic Flute and most recently the role of Titania from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin Britten directed by Bridgitta Roy and Clive Timms.
As well as performing for others, Jasmine has organised charity concerts, raising money for brilliant causes including Shelter Box and Kenyan Kids.
