Tracie Penwarden – Musical Director and Soprano
Despite having been offered places at the Birmingham Conservatoire and London College of Music to study piano and bassoon, Tracie eventually opted to study singing at Trinity College of Music. This proved to be the right choice as three years later she was singing the lead role in Kurt Weil’s Knickerbocker Holiday opposite John Nettles at the Barbican and two years after that she emerged having won the prestigious Singing Department Award during her postgraduate year. On graduation Tracie commenced further studies with the internationally renowned tenor, Wynford Evans.
Tracie's career as a singer and teacher has been very diverse; song and dance roles at the famous Thursford Christmas Spectacular and backing vocals on a commercial CD have gone hand in hand with her career as a lyric soprano and recitalist. Tracie has an enviable versatility and her recital programmes reflect this ability, being as diverse in taste as the audience members she performs to but it has been her love of oratorio which has taken her to the major venues throughout Europe. Her talent and easy-going personality have led to invitations to perform Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony during the Promenade Season at the Royal Albert Hall under the baton of Leonard Slatkin and she was also the soloist of choice to perform the French premiere of Richard Blackford’s Mirror of Perfection at L’eglise de la Madeleine in Paris.
Tracie has never shied from new opportunities or experiences; in 1999 she was cast for Vivaldi’s Gloria with the world-famous Mark Morris Dance Group at Sadler’s Wells and to further demonstrate her versatility she has also appeared on an album of what could be loosely categorised as ‘Acid Jazz’; Square Window’s album 10 Songs for Boys and Girls.
Since settling in South Lakeland, Tracie has established her own Music Practice, the Tracie Penwarden Singing Studios, offering singing tuition to beginners and semi-professional singers alike. As well as conducting her own award-winning vocal group 'OttoVoce', Tracie is the Musical Director of Arnside Choral Society and the Milli Youth Choir, and is also a successful freelance choir trainer and advisor. Tracie is in demand not only as a solo singer but also as an entertaining and informative workshop leader.
Alongside her choral work Tracie is a regular member of Voices of the North, directed by Jolyon Dodgson, a founder member of The Lakes Ensemble, and was a regular soloist with La Serenata ensemble.
Tracie is married to the conductor Ian Allan and they live in Milnthorpe with their two children, Austin and Mabel.
If you wish to book Tracie for your event or are interested in having singing lessons then please contact her here.
Despite having been offered places at the Birmingham Conservatoire and London College of Music to study piano and bassoon, Tracie eventually opted to study singing at Trinity College of Music. This proved to be the right choice as three years later she was singing the lead role in Kurt Weil’s Knickerbocker Holiday opposite John Nettles at the Barbican and two years after that she emerged having won the prestigious Singing Department Award during her postgraduate year. On graduation Tracie commenced further studies with the internationally renowned tenor, Wynford Evans.
Tracie's career as a singer and teacher has been very diverse; song and dance roles at the famous Thursford Christmas Spectacular and backing vocals on a commercial CD have gone hand in hand with her career as a lyric soprano and recitalist. Tracie has an enviable versatility and her recital programmes reflect this ability, being as diverse in taste as the audience members she performs to but it has been her love of oratorio which has taken her to the major venues throughout Europe. Her talent and easy-going personality have led to invitations to perform Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony during the Promenade Season at the Royal Albert Hall under the baton of Leonard Slatkin and she was also the soloist of choice to perform the French premiere of Richard Blackford’s Mirror of Perfection at L’eglise de la Madeleine in Paris.
Tracie has never shied from new opportunities or experiences; in 1999 she was cast for Vivaldi’s Gloria with the world-famous Mark Morris Dance Group at Sadler’s Wells and to further demonstrate her versatility she has also appeared on an album of what could be loosely categorised as ‘Acid Jazz’; Square Window’s album 10 Songs for Boys and Girls.
Since settling in South Lakeland, Tracie has established her own Music Practice, the Tracie Penwarden Singing Studios, offering singing tuition to beginners and semi-professional singers alike. As well as conducting her own award-winning vocal group 'OttoVoce', Tracie is the Musical Director of Arnside Choral Society and the Milli Youth Choir, and is also a successful freelance choir trainer and advisor. Tracie is in demand not only as a solo singer but also as an entertaining and informative workshop leader.
Alongside her choral work Tracie is a regular member of Voices of the North, directed by Jolyon Dodgson, a founder member of The Lakes Ensemble, and was a regular soloist with La Serenata ensemble.
Tracie is married to the conductor Ian Allan and they live in Milnthorpe with their two children, Austin and Mabel.
If you wish to book Tracie for your event or are interested in having singing lessons then please contact her here.
Ian Allan - Conductor
Before settling in Cumbria Ian spent twenty three years as a conductor, trombonist, pianist and harpist in the British Army. In common with most military musicians Ian is extremely versatile having performed professionally with jazz bands, pop groups, big bands and orchestras on an array of different instruments
He has conducted professional bands and choirs at all levels from primary school demonstrations through to Royal Occasions encompassing a wide variety of genres. The British Army had two professional choirs within its ranks, one of which was formed by Ian and he subsequently conducted the choir both nationally and internationally until his
retirement. In 2004 Ian’s choir was chosen to sing at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Ian has toured the world as a musician and has performed fanfares for the Royal Variety Show and also led the fanfare team that heralded the reopening of the Brandenburg Gate in 1989. He is a prolific arranger having had several arrangements recorded commercially and for several years he led a team of musicians onto the stage of the nationally acclaimed Sights and Sounds of Christmas at Thursford, Norfolk where he and his wife, Tracie Penwarden met.
Ian also conducts K Shoes Male Voice Choir and leads the Kendal and South Lakeland Tuneless Choirs.
Before settling in Cumbria Ian spent twenty three years as a conductor, trombonist, pianist and harpist in the British Army. In common with most military musicians Ian is extremely versatile having performed professionally with jazz bands, pop groups, big bands and orchestras on an array of different instruments
He has conducted professional bands and choirs at all levels from primary school demonstrations through to Royal Occasions encompassing a wide variety of genres. The British Army had two professional choirs within its ranks, one of which was formed by Ian and he subsequently conducted the choir both nationally and internationally until his
retirement. In 2004 Ian’s choir was chosen to sing at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Ian has toured the world as a musician and has performed fanfares for the Royal Variety Show and also led the fanfare team that heralded the reopening of the Brandenburg Gate in 1989. He is a prolific arranger having had several arrangements recorded commercially and for several years he led a team of musicians onto the stage of the nationally acclaimed Sights and Sounds of Christmas at Thursford, Norfolk where he and his wife, Tracie Penwarden met.
Ian also conducts K Shoes Male Voice Choir and leads the Kendal and South Lakeland Tuneless Choirs.
David Edmonds - Accompanist
David was born in Kendal and went to Queen Katherine School. He was the principal flute player in the Cumbria Youth Orchestra and in 1994 commenced studies with Clare Southworth at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, from where he graduated in 1998. David was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for two years and in 1994, was a woodwind finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year.
Based in Kendal, David is a member of several orchestras and ensembles in the north west of England and is in demand as a flute soloist in addition to accompanying Arnside and Ulverston Choral Societies.
David was born in Kendal and went to Queen Katherine School. He was the principal flute player in the Cumbria Youth Orchestra and in 1994 commenced studies with Clare Southworth at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, from where he graduated in 1998. David was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for two years and in 1994, was a woodwind finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year.
Based in Kendal, David is a member of several orchestras and ensembles in the north west of England and is in demand as a flute soloist in addition to accompanying Arnside and Ulverston Choral Societies.