YOUNG
ARTISTS
JAMES BOWMAN YOUNG ARTISTS
We are currently accepting applications for our 2026 Young Artist programme.
We are looking for 4 emerging singers (SATB) and 2 lute/guitar players in search of coaching and professional performance opportunities in both solo and ensemble settings and early music settings. You’ll take part in two residency weekends of masterclasses and coaching, and have the opportunity to perform including at a high-profile concert venue in London.
Applications close Sunday 13 September, with auditions taking place on Tuesday 22 September 2026.
Our Young Artist Programme is named in memory of our late patron, James Bowman CBE (1941 – 2023). James was a committed supporter of young musicians. He volunteered his time and expertise, even donating generously to Vache Baroque in our first years of existence. He was a trailblazing artist, pioneering the countertenor voice as part of the Early Music revival; an outstanding opera and oratorio soloist, yet also a skilled consort and choral singer who embraced the breadth of skills required to succeed across these closely-linked yet distinct worlds.
2025 YOUNG ARTISTS
Jessica Hopkins soprano
Kindly supported by John and Jan Bradley
Mariana Rodrigues soprano
Kindly supported by Keith Fitchett and Laura Morland
Laura Toomey alto
Kindly supported by Terry Winwood
Bradyn Debysingh tenor
Kindly supported by Steven and Joan Fogel
Alexander Semple baritone
Kindly supported by John Abramson
Will Harmer bass-baritone
Kindly supported by William Darbourne
Thank you to our 2025 JBYAP sponsors for their generous support. We’re also very grateful to the Garrick Charitable Trust and the Wavendon Foundation whose support has made this year’s edition of the JBYAP possible.
Our 2025 Young Artists took part in two residential weekends of intensive training at The Vache, including movement sessions, individual coaching sessions, a consort masterclasses with Jonathan Howard (formerly of The King’s Singers) and a solo masterclass with Joanne Lunn (Bach specialist, one of Britain’s leading Baroque sopranos in great demand throughout Europe and across the world). JBYAs also received professional development support, including language coaching, a CV workshop, a headshot photoshoot and a video recording session.
The programme culminated with JBYAs performing as part of our Out of the Deep project at Magdalen College Chapel, Oxford and Smith Square Hall, London alongside leading soloists, choral colleagues and the VB Band.
2023 YOUNG ARTiSTS
In 2023 we were proud to announce the second edition of our Young Artist Programme for emerging singers, named in honour and memory of our late patron James Bowman CBE. Our five talented singers prepared a staging of Henry Purcell’s ‘Masque of the Seasons’ from his opera The Fairy Queen with acclaimed director Thomas Guthrie and VB Artistic Director Jonathan Darbourne. They performed the piece twice accompanied by industry-leading instrumentalists, as part of an abridged version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream given by two actors. The JBYAP also featured a masterclass on Baroque-era songs with early-music-specialist tenor Charles Daniels, new headshots, and a career development session.
Jacqueline Turner soprano
Kindly supported by Elizabeth Meshkvicheva
Phoebe Higham soprano
Kindly supported by John Abramson
Ellie Stamp alto
Kindly supported by Keith Fitchett & Laura Morland
Archie Inns tenor
Kindly supported by John Abramson
Carlos Cerchiero baritone
Kindly supported by Terry Winwood
“I thought that everyone involved worked hard to create a uniquely positive, supportive and fun learning environment. It meant that we all felt comfortable and confident to take feedback on board and take risks in the rehearsals.”
2021 YOUNG ARTISTS
To nurture talent at the emerging professional level, in August 2021 we held our inaugural Young Artist Programme for singers aged 18-22. They received individual coaching from our Artistic Director Jonathan Darbourne, a movement session with Mandy Demetriou, a masterclass on Bach arias led by international countertenor Alex Potter, professional headshots, and the chance to rehearse and perform in Paradise & Pandemonium alongside established industry professionals.
Jasmine Flicker soprano
Caroline Blair soprano
Hugo Brady tenor
“This experience meant a great deal to me, it’s the first time working in a professional environment and with The Vache team they made it the most welcoming time. It was a great way to get started in Baroque Music.”
“It was a brilliant way to not only learn but to really be involved, and apply that knowledge effectively to great pieces of music. I had so much fun and took away more skills and practice that will continue to help me to grow in my future career.”
“Getting to sing alongside singers whom I admire… on an equal footing within the section was an extremely motivating experience.”