Alison Davies
Ali started her teaching career in Liverpool and after raising her sons spent twenty years as Head of Music and form teacher, at Merchant Taylor’s Junior Boys School, where she directed Junior and Senior choirs (often involving school staff and parents), producing and directing concerts and full-scale productions.
Since retiring Ali has formed and directs a very successful ladies choir, "Songbirds" in addition she is a much sought- after Musical Director for local societies. She was MD of '50 Voices' Wirral Choir (now renamed The Peninsular Singers) and she accepted the position of Musical Director last year with the long established Roundelay Choir in Southport and more recently took over from Ben Draper as MD for Opera Viva.
Not only does she have a very impressive record as a conductor, but she is also an experienced classically trained singer enjoying oratorio, musical theatre and opera and has played several leading roles in Gilbert & Sullivan! In addition, she is a regular recitalist. Ali has been a member of Opera Viva for over 10 years where she has undertaken alto roles for the company, alongside chorus mistress duties for major productions.
She says: 'Using my experience in directing / conducting and knowledge of opera, I am looking forward to driving Opera Viva forward and encouraging a new generation of local singers to experience the joy of singing and performing opera and of introducing this talented company to new audiences'.
Ben Draper
Our former musical director Benjamin Draper enjoys a varied career as a conductor and cellist. After a very successful period with Opera Viva he is embarking on a highly prestigious post-graduate course in orchestral conducting at the Royal College of Music in London.
He is the Musical Director of Hive Sinfonia, and Co-Artistic Director and Conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Academy Orchestra. Ben studied Conducting and Cello at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he appeared in conducting masterclasses with Antony Hermus, Ludovic Morlot, Alpesh Chauhan, David Hill and Sir Mark Elder.
During his studies he took placements with the BBC Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic orchestras as Assistant Conductor, working closely with world-class visiting soloists and conductors. Since finishing at the RNCM Ben has worked with amateur orchestras across the Northwest, and extensively with youth orchestras, recently as deputy conductor for Nottingham Youth Orchestra and the Cheetham’s School of Music Orchestras. His professional orchestra engagement includes collaborating with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for a side-by-side project with Bangor University and working with the musicians of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in various capacities, as part of his role within the RLPO’s Youth Company.
As a cellist Ben studied with Petr Prause. His playing career takes him in a variety of directions, often playing as a chamber musician, recitalist or session player.