Accompanying
Felicity started accompanying as a teenager when her younger sister was learning several musical instruments and asked her to play through her current repertoire with her. Her debut was accompanying her mother’s youth choir in a concert and the rest as they say is history!
She has played for numerous ABRSM and Trinity exams in Buckinghamshire for a variety of instruments from grade 1 to diploma level. She regularly accompanies exams at Aylesbury Music Centre and often plays for GCSE or A-level performance exams at Aylesbury High School and privately. Felicity enjoys learning a work inside out so she can hum the instrumental line when she is playing the piano part. This means she can follow the candidate easily if they need to change speed or if they lose their place! She helps the candidates do their best work by creating a relaxed atmosphere and enjoys seeing how students progress each year. She is particularly knowledgeable about the singing repertoire and has vast experience of accompanying brass players.
Felicity has also coached students who need another pair of ears before an audition with great success. She is used to accompanying choirs and is the regular accompanist for The Firth Singers and formerly accompanied The Wingrave Community Choir 2014-2018. Felicity has often deputised for other choirs including: The Aylesbury Festival Choir and the Amersham choir.
Felicity also enjoys repetiteuring for amateur operatic and musical theatre societies. She repetiteured for Chiltern Community Opera 2013-2019 and enjoyed conducting their last 3 productions with a full orchestra. She has deputised as a repetiteur for Aylesbury Opera, The Vale Musical Theatre Society and Beaconsfield light Opera Society. Her first experience of being a Musical Director was for the Jubilee players and their pantomime Aladdin at the tender age of 18.
If you need a coaching session or an accompanist for a concert, an exam or any other event please go to the contact page.
Testimonials
"I've worked with Felicity at Buckinghamshire Music Trust for the past few years and she is the lady I call on to accompany all of my students. She knows a lot of the repertoire (and it's quite rare for brass players to find such a knowledgeable accompanist!), is always well prepared and gets on so well with all of the students which helps ease their nerves on exam day. For professional development I took an exam as a teacher last year and Felicity was my accompanist, too. We had a blast rehearsing together and getting the most out of the music. Highly recommended accompanist! Thanks for all of your hard work, Felicity!" Melissa, Brass teacher.
“Felicity was wonderful when she accompanied my Grade 8 exam. She accompanied me sensitively, which helped me sing confidently and with more expression - not easy when you're nervous! She is kind and professional as an accompanist and worked with me to create well-rounded musical pieces, using her depth of experience as a singer to guide me.” Katharine, former candidate.
“Felicity has been tremendously helpful in progressing my daughter’s musical journey. For several years she has accompanied Julia in her ABRSM grade exams and taught her aural and theory. Her sparkling personality makes learning so enjoyable for children and she has a very encouraging manner of delivering positive criticism. Her kind and reassuring attitude help to dispell any pre-performance nerves. Julia and I can’t recommend Felicity highly enough and we look forward to more music-making with her in the future.” Kathryn, parent.