Anastasia Micklethwaite

Alto Section Leader

Hello!  I'm Anastasia  - Singer, Flautist and Musical Director. I’ve loved to sing for as long as I can remember! My very early memories include belting out "Froggy Went a Courting" non-stop from the back seat of the car on family holidays when I was still in nursery..... Choral singing and flute lessons began in my junior school in Yorkshire, and those early opportunities nurtured a love of performing a wide range of music, both as soloist and with others. As a youngster I was a member of the National Children's Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Choir. Formal singing lessons began at Chetham’s School of Music in the ‘80s with John Powell, and I enjoyed 4 years as a Choral Scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge, singing with Richard Marlow.

My love of travel was nurtured initially with trips to the Austrian Tyrol with my local concert band, and to Holland and Denmark with the NYO. During my university years, I had opportunities to perform across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. I spent a particularly memorable Christmas with Tim Brown and the University Chamber Choir at Ganeshpuri Ashram in India, as guests of Guru Mayi (of “Eat, Pray, Love” fame!). I’ve since performed all over the world as a choir member, orchestral member and soloist (flute and voice), and have been blessed to work with a plethora of well-known conductors and musicians, and perform in fabulous venues across the globe.

I enjoyed an early dual career in finance and music based in London and New York City, where I performed with, and coached a variety of leading choirs and ensembles. I returned to the UK 25 years ago to set up a regional music centre in Cumbria. I have since led a series of school music departments, and directed a wide range of community choirs and events, including large-scale "Big Sing" gigs across Yorkshire and Cumbria, which enabled hundreds of primary school children to gain access to singing. I currently enjoy a busy schedule of school music, freelance performing, conducting and private teaching.

I’ve coached and conducted varied ensembles in the USA and UK, including choirs at Saint Bart's Church, New York, the National Youth Choirs of GB, National Children's Choirs and the National Children's Orchestra. I enjoy a wide variety of music making and have a very eclectic and wide taste in music, directing and performing with a range of leading professional and amateur choirs (including my own community group, Sing Joyfully!), solo oratorio performance, recital work, school music making, orchestral playing (I particularly love playing the piccolo), and concerts and recordings with a number of professional choirs including Luminatus. 

I'm thrilled to be working with Tim again, and am really excited to be coaching on the Berwang course, where I look forward to meeting lots of people who love to sing!