Originally from North Wales, pianist and conductor, Conal Bembridge – Sayers studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, graduating with a Master of Arts in Collaborative Piano.

Formally a full time member of music staff at Opera Vlaanderen, in Belgium, Conal regularly works with companies such as Welsh National Opera and the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, and has been recognised with a number of awards including; the Sam Hutchings Pianist Prize, Roderick Bryson Memorial Opera Conductors Prize, Simon Clarkson Memorial Award for Outstanding All Round Musicianship, and Mansel Thomas Award for Music.

As a recitalist Conal has performed at the Leeds Lieder Festival, Edinburgh Festival, Ludlow English Song Festival, Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, Tenby Arts Festival, Oundle International Music Festival, and St.Martin’s in the Fields. He has also been an official accompanist at the Urdd and National Eisteddfodau, and Malcom Martineau’s Oxenfoord International Summer School. 

He is in demand as a conductor/chorus master and is currently the musical director of the renowned Morriston Orpheus Choir. In addition to this, Conal has been assistant conductor for Welsh National Opera, guest conductor for the Cory Band, and is frequently asked to deliver choral workshops around the UK.

Passionate about the future of classical music, Conal holds teaching positions at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff University, Wales Academy of Voice and Dramatic Arts, and as Head of Keyboard at Queen Elizabeth Hospital School. He also delivers outreach projects for Live Music Now, Music in Hospitals and Care, and Welsh National Opera, helping music reach the whole breadth of society. 

Alex Jenkins read music at the University of Nottingham, graduating with a BA(Hons) and an MA. He was appointed Musician-in-Residence at Christ’s Hospital School in West Sussex for two years, where he later worked as a visiting piano teacher. Alex graduated with distinction from his MPerf in Piano Accompaniment at the Royal College of Music under the tutelage of Simon Lepper, Roger Vignoles and Andrew Zolinsky. Whilst there Alex was awarded the Titanic Memoriam Prize for best performance by a pianist in the Lies Askonas Vocal Competition and an accompanist’s prize at the Brooks-van der Pump English Song Competition, as well as performing at the Wigmore Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and the V&A Museum.

 

He is currently a professional accompanist and vocal coach at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, working predominantly with the Vocal, Choral Conducting and Opera departments, and is musical director for the postgraduate opera scenes at RWCMD, as well as a senior vocal coach in his regular summer residency at Sherborne School of Music.

 

In December ‘22 Alex made his TV debut as the pianist for an S4C documentary alongside the Only Boys, Girls and Kids Aloud choirs and world renowned soprano Rebecca Evans. Alex regularly works with choirs, currently accompanying for Swansea Bach Choir. Alongside the wealth of vocal music Alex is involved with he is also a member of the Apollo Trio, alongside violinist Oliver Nelson and clarinettist Paul Vowles, having recently finished a thrilling summer recital series around the south of England.