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15
Apr
Harrogate’s international soprano set for Holy Week homecoming
Harrogate music lovers will have the chance to hear one of the country’s finest sopranos tomorrow night (April 16) at St Peter’s Church.
Eleonore Cockerham has sung at some of the most famous venues around the world, including Sydney Opera House and Tokyo Opera City.
St Peter’s may be a somewhat humbler setting, but it will nevertheless be a special occasion for Eleonore as she grew up in Harrogate.
She and other professional singers will join St Peter’s choir for an English version of Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion, which is often performed at Easter.
"I love coming back to Harrogate," she says. "There are lots of friendly faces and it’s an environment I enjoy."
Raised in a musical family in Starbeck, Eleonore started singing in a church choir at the age of eight. She attended St Aidan’s Church of England High School and sang in the choir of St John the Baptist Church in Knaresborough as a girl. Her first international booking was in Rome aged 12.
At the age of 20, she successfully auditioned to join the Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble Voces8. Over 500 people applied.
She became the youngest member of what is widely regarded as the country’s premier singing group and spent four years touring, often internationally. Besides Sydney and Tokyo, she sung across the United States and at places such as the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico, and performed at the BBC Proms at London’s Cadogen Hall.
But then she decided to leave. Why?
I really enjoyed my time with them but people don’t understand it’s not just a job, it’s a whole lifestyle. We did about 130 events a year. As a 21-year-old it was absolutely amazing but I didn’t want it to be the most important thing in my life.
Eleonore Cockerham
Eleonore, who continues to make guest appearances with Voces8, says she wanted to devote more time to her family, friends and Christian faith.
Faith, she says, “is a very important part of my life and influences all me decisions".
Ripon date
She remains in demand as a singer and teacher. Now based in Manchester, where she studied at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of mezzo soprano Louise Winter, she is both a freelance singer and teacher.
The calendar on her website is full of performances for 2025 at places ranging from Ripon Cathedral to Rhode Island in America. She will be singing in Handel’s Messiah at Ripon on December 13.
Her voice also features on the soundtrack to the film The Last Duel, and in season four of the Netflix series The Crown.
Eleonore usually practises two hours a day but will be preserving her voice tomorrow for her Harrogate appearance. “I’m a bit of a chatterbox so I have to careful not to overdo the talking,” she jokes.
She says her “primary passion is singing with others” and St Matthew’s Passion presents that opportunity. Family and friends will be there to hear her at what promises to be a special night at St Peter’s.
What's her message to those people planning to attend?
Be prepared for the most amazing journey.
St Matthew's Passion takes place at 7.30pm on Wednesday, April 16 at St Peter's Church on Cambridge Road. Tickets are expected to be available on the door.
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