Penelope Turner is an enormously versatile singer with a large range and the ability to produce on demand either a pure sound or a rich, full vibrato. With her roots in early music, she has mastered a variety of musical styles, showing a personal preference for medieval, late romantic, modern and contemporary music.
Penelope began her singing career as a Choral Exhibitioner at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, whilst studying law. Although she completed her training as a UK solicitor, she chose for a career in music, finishing her musical training with a course in early vocal ensemble music with Dr. Rebecca Stewart at the Brabants Conservatory, the Netherlands. Her current coach is Xenia Meijer.
- 1998: co-founder of the three-voice ensemble, Trigon, winner of the 1998 International Young Artists’ Presentation (Festival of Flanders), Antwerp, Belgium.
- 2002: Maria Magdalena with the medieval ensemble Ordo Virtutum in a semi-staged performance of the 15th century Maria planctus the “Wolfenbütteler Marienklage”.
- 2003: co-founder of ensemble Ut Sol, a group specializing in the interpretation and dramatic setting of medieval music - in particular the performance of Gregorian chant and polyphony from the late 12th and early 13th century Ecole de Notre Dame of Leonin and Perotin.
- 2007: première of Stevie Wishart‘s piece ‘Europa‘ at the Styriate Festival, Graz.
- 2008: presentation of ‘Classic meets Cabaret’, a stimulating new recital programme featuring works by 20th century and contemporary composers and involving the audience to the maximum. (See Projects and Classic Meets Cabaret). For this project Penelope is accompanied by the acclaimed pianist, composer and conductor, Andrew Wise. “Het was werkelijk heel mooi: onderhoudend en aangrijpend [...]. Het was anderhalf uur alsof je werd meegenomen van het ene naar het andere lied, van de ene emotie naar de andere, soms tegengestelde – en dat terwijl de tijd voorbij vloog zonder één moment van inzinking.” Ger Groot, writer and philosopher.
- 2008: co-founder of Music Relevant with Stevie Wishart, composer and musician.
Since 1998, performances at internationally renowned venues including: the Festival of Flanders, Antwerp, the Utrecht Festival for Early Music, the Styriarte Festival, Graz, the Festival d’Ile de France, the Slovenian Brezice Music Festival, and the BOZAR concert hall, Brussels; these, in addition to numerous other venues in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Since 2004, Penelope has been involved in educational projects in partnership with the Réseau de Musiciens Intervenants en Ateliers (ReMuA), the BOZAR Education Department and the Orchestre Nationale de Belgique. (See Education.)
Penelope has extensive recording experience, both for CD and live radio, in particular with Trigon and the Laudantes Consort. In 2006 she recorded the contemporary work ‘Song of the Mountains‘ by Frances Turner.
Photos reproduced courtesy of Geert Allegaert.
CDs include :
Song of the Mountains by Frances Turner. Released 2006. Sound Sample.
- Voice : Penelope Turner
- Baroque Violins : Frances Turner, Caroline Balding
- Baroque Cello : Alison McGillivray
- Percussion : Richard Benjafield
Music for Candlemas. Released 2000. Ensemble Trigon
Gregorian chant and early 13th century polyphony from the Ecole de Notre Dame.
- Voice : Margot Kalse, Jos Somsen, Penelope Turner
Many CDs recorded both as soloist and ensemble member with the Laudantes Consort.
