Ashley Fulton, B.Mus. (Hons), L.L.C.M., M.A. has taught Singing at the Ulster College of Music since 1992.
Becca’s love of singing began before she attended her first Kindermusik class at the age of four. By fifteen, she had given her first paid performance and already been offered a record contract with Family Tree Entertainment. Since settling in Northern Ireland, she has completed her Higher National Diploma in Popular Performance and spent over three years performing with an original soul band. Holding a First Class Honours Degree in Music with emphasis on vocal performance from Queens University Belfast, as well as an Associate Diploma in Recital-Singing with Trinity College London, Becca has been honoured by winning the Kathleen Ferrier and Silver Challenge Cups among other awards. Singing in Spark Opera’s premier production “Bright Sparks,” Becca was given a positive review in Fortnight magazine. She has since conducted singing and performance workshops for the opera company. Becca’s passion for new music (including that which involves Extended Vocal Techniques) has led her to work with several local composers such as: Marc Tweedie, Eduard Zatriqi, Garvin Clements, Matthew Whiteside, Nigel McBride, and Brian Irvine.
No stranger to the stage, Becca grew-up performing with the Paramount Art Center’s Backstage Players, and was awarded BTAS Best Actress in 2003 for her role as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. Her experiences stretch from the stage to in front of the camera- as a former cast member and featured musician on the sketch comedy show ‘Get Real TV’ broadcast by Warner Bros. Network- to behind the sound desk, where she received a KTCF nomination for her sound design of Attempts on Her Life and held a summer stock position as Assistant Sound Designer for Heritage Repertory Theatre. Her production experience fostered a fascination with the electronic side of music, which can now be heard in her own material. She currently fronts the local trip-hop trio – Decomposing in Paris.
Harriet Jenkins has been teaching Singing at the College since 2008, and is a classically trained Mezzo-Soprano, training in both Northern Ireland and England to Diploma level under well known figures in the UK operatic scene. She maintains an active performance life, including work with chamber choirs, orchestras, European touring and solo engagements which include weddings and corporate functions. She is a previous NI Musician of the Year Finalist and has been awarded several Singing scholarships in the UK and Ireland.
Recent performances have included work with NI Opera on their 2011 production of Tosca and UCD Choral Scholars in Dublin. Her passion for Opera is reflected in her choice of Thesis entitled “The Latent Politics of Giacomo Puccini”, successfully submitted as part of her MMus in Historical Musicology at University College Dublin in 2010.
Previous performances include concert performances with professional orchestras, performances in collaboration with the Ulster Museum, solo concert work, radio and television performances (BBC & RTE), formal dinner functions, alongside extensive choral work in the UK & Ireland. Experience also includes European touring work in Chamber Choirs and past-membership of national youth choirs. Former member of New Lyric Operatic Company and FitzTheatre. In addition, she was employed as a University of Cambridge Choral Scholar for 3 years until 2006 whilst completing her MA.
Harriet maintains an active interest in a variety of genres of music, and currently teaches Classical, Music Theatre and Popular Vocals at the College. Her Ethos is very much centred on the enjoyment of singing and she regularly organises Student Recitals at the College which have been very well received. She encourages singing together and completed a Foundation Course in Conducting with Sing For Pleasure in London in 2009.
Many of Harriet’s students have extended their Singing experience to include membership of Ulster Youth Choir, National Youth Music Theatre, New Lyric Operatic Company, Belfast Operatic Company, the Belfast Philharmonic Choir, Stagecoach & school choirs amongst other performance groups.
Harriet is a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians and a member of the British Voice Association – reflecting her commitment to encouraging healthy, happy singing.
© The Ulster College of Music 2011. Website developed by Laurence Jenkins