Morning Star: The Christmas Spirit

The Gesualdo Six is an award-winning British vocal ensemble comprising some of the UK’s finest consort singers, directed by Owain Park. Praised for their imaginative programming and impeccable blend, the group was formed in 2014 for a performance of Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories in Cambridge and since performed at numerous major festivals around the world.

Notable highlights include a concert in the distinguished Deutschlandradio Debut Series, performances at renowned venues including Wigmore Hall (London), Miller Theatre (New York), the Sydney Opera House, and their debut at the BBC Proms in 2023. This season, The Gesualdo Six made their South American debut in Colombia, and will appear in Japan, China and Singapore for the first time. The ensemble has collaborated with Fretwork, the Brodsky Quartet, and Matilda Lloyd, and is currently touring a concert-theatre titled Secret Byrd with director, Bill Barclay.

The Gesualdo Six is committed to music education, regularly hosting workshops for young musicians and composers. The ensemble has curated two Composition Competitions, with the most recent edition drawing entries from over 300 composers worldwide. The group recently commissioned new works from Shruthi Rajasekar and Joanna Marsh, as well as Coronasolfège for 6 by Héloïse Werner.

Harnessing the power of social media, the ensemble has made classical music accessible to millions worldwide, creating captivating videos from beautiful locations during their tour. They released their debut recording, English Motets on Hyperion Records in early 2018 to critical acclaim, followed by six additional albums—Christmas, Fading, Josquin’s Legacy, Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories, Lux Aeterna and William Byrd’s Mass for five voices. Their most recent album, Queen of Hearts, was released in June 2024.

Owain Park was born in Bristol in 1993. In addition to directing The Gesualdo Six, he maintains a busy schedule of conducting projects with ensembles including the London Mozart Players, Southbank Sinfonia, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Academy of Ancient Music and Cappella Cracoviensis. Owain is the Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers and was formerly the Musical Director of Cambridge Chorale.

Owain’s compositions are published by Novello and have been performed internationally by ensembles including the Tallis Scholars and the Aurora Orchestra. While at Cambridge University, he studied orchestration with John Rutter before undertaking a Master's degree in composition. He is the composer-in-residence for the London Choral Sinfonia and was named one of BBC Radio 3’s 31 under 31 Young Stars 2020. The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge recorded an album of his compositions which was nominated for the BBC Music Magazine Awards. In 2023, Battle Cry, a collaborative album featuring Helen Charlston (mezzo-soprano) and Toby Carr (theorbo) with Owain’s composition as the title track, won the Gramophone Award for Best Concept Album.

Owain is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists (FRCO) and was awarded the Dixon Prize for improvisation. He has been the Senior Organ Scholar at both Wells Cathedral and Trinity College Cambridge. He was a Tenebrae Associate Artist for two seasons and has collaborated \with ensembles including The Sixteen, Gabrieli Consort and Polyphony. Outside of his musical career, Owain is an avid gardener and can be found raking, pruning or picking cherry tomatoes.