Graham Bier
bass-baritone - conductor - educator
As a member of the ensemble Bright Cecilia, Graham recently completed an MA at the University of York, studying ensemble singing with Dr. John Potter and private voice with Yvonne Seymour. He is continuing postgraduate study in choral conducting with Dr. Jonathan Wainwright. He regularly sings with the choir of the Yorkshire Baroque Soloists as well as several local and university ensembles. Recent solo performances at the University include the role of Aminth in the modern premier of the anonymous Jesuit pastorale Daphnis, and as one of nine singers in an academically new version of the famous Allegri Miserere under the direction of Graham O'Reilly for the National Early Music Association Conference in July. With Viriditas Opera, he portrayed Diabolus in Hildegard von Bingen's Ordo Virtutum and the role of John in the twelfth century Planctus Mariae. With the University Chamber Choir, Graham was bass soloist in William Walton's The Twelve, Carissimi's Jephte with soprano Julia Gooding, Purcell's Dioclesian at the National Centre for Early Music, and Brahms' Ein Deutches Requiem. In March he sang the bass solos in Charpentier's Le Reniement de Saint Pierre with the Ebor Singers. This summer, he was featured as a soloist with the Yorkshire Bach Choir during their performance of the Schutz Musikalische Exequien, a concert production of Purcell's The Fairy Queen and a concert in Grismby of the Monteverdi Vespers of 1610. In November, he joined the Manchester Camerata to perform with Bryn Terfel in his Bad Boys Tour. Graham has recently been appointed choir director of the Bulmer Choir, and is employed as a choral scholar at Leeds Cathedral.
Before coming to study in England, Graham spent two years working in Sarasota, Florida where he was sought after as a soloist and as a choral section leader. During that time he had the fortune to study privately with renowned American choral conductor Daniel Moe, and also served as the Assistant Chorus Master with the Anna Maria Island Community Chorus and Orchestra. Solo performance highlights from these years include bass soloist for Handel's Messiah with the Glacier Symphony, the bass solos in Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music with Key Chorale, and bass soloist for the Stainer Crucifixion at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bradenton where he returned to perform the same role the following year due to popular demand.
Graham did his undergraduate work at Oberlin College, where he graduated in 2005 with majors in both Music History/Theory, and Environmental Studies. At Oberlin, he studied voice with Gerald Crawford, and conducting with Hugh Floyd and Jody Kerchner. Many of his academic and performance interests were kindled during those years, including a sincere passion for music education, a love of early music, and a taste for collaborating with modern composers.
Specific research interests include: 15th century notation, choral conducting, cathedral music programs, emotion in music, contrafacts and recycling musical material, improvisation, and the influence of Emmanuel Swedenborg on music.
When he isn't busy with music, Graham enjoys playing soccer, wilderness hiking, taking quality photographs with a mediocre camera, and spending quiet time with his wife Robin.
Upcoming solo performances:
11 December - music for the Chapels Royal with the Yorkshire Bach Choir.
12 December - Handel's Messiah with the Bridlington Choral Society.
16 December - Berio's Sinfonia with the University of York Symphony Orchestra.
6 January - Richard Shephard's Ode on the 350th Birthday of Mr. Henry Purcell for the National Centre for Early Music.
1 May - as Zoroastro in Handel's Orlando for Baroque Day.
Academic news:
7-9 January - Graham will be presenting a paper at the Royal Music Association Research Students' Conference entitled A Dose of His Own Medicine: Adaptation as Performance Practice for Henry Purcell's Semi-Operas.
