As part of our Sharing Historic Barts project we have two exciting music residences.
Edward Picton-Turbervill
Edward is a prize-winning pianist and composer, recently selected as both a Britten Pears Young Artist 2024-25 and a 2024 City Music Foundation Artist.
Ed will be running a community choir with staff from St Bartholomew’s Hospital. The meet ups will be informal and staff will spend an hour signing and playing instruments. The choir will form part of the ensemble who will be performing at the premiere of The Pool of Bethesda, an exciting new cantata by Ed, with a libretto by Robert Hawkins. Taking their inspiration from the painting of the same name on the Hogarth Stair, the pair will draw out the themes of water, healing, and community from the story in John’s Gospel, bringing fresh relevance to the story for those using Barts in the 21st Century.
Joanna Harries
Praised for her “stylish” singing (Opera Magazine) and the “emotional force” (The Times) of her performances, mezzo-soprano Joanna Harries is a classically trained singer and experienced workshop leader.
She recently finished at the National Opera Studio and made solo debuts with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican, with Opera Rara at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Cadogan Hall.
Jo will be running workshops for patients at Barts. Workshop attendees will create music and words inspired by the Great Hall in Barts North Wing. This new sound installation will weave together 18th century music from instrumentalists on recorder, lute and gamba, with patient’s spoken word.
This new Sonic Tapestry will bring together past and present to explore the hospital experience. A premiere of the the installation will be performed in the Great Hall in January 2026.
Find out more
If you are a member of staff and would like to join the choir, or are a patient at Barts and would like to join the sonic threads workshops, please get in touch at bookings@bartsheritage.org.uk
