Biography

The versatility and agility of Sophia Brumfitt's voice has enabled her to work in areas spanning the entire spectrum of early music, from Medieval to Early Classical. She has sung with choirs like Ensemble Elyma, and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, appeared as soloist in Oratorio and traditional Celtic and Sephardic song.

Like most English singers, Sophia Brumfitt started singing in choirs where she first discovered her love of Early Music. Girls weren't allowed to sing in Anglican Church choirs at the time but, being a school choir, The South Wilts A Capella Choir were allowed to sing occasional services in some of the greatest cathedrals in the south of England, - St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey, Salisbury Cathedral, and Exeter Cathedral to name a few. She went on to study at Dartington College of Arts in Devon, at Lancaster University and then took English National Opera's course for young professionals- The Knack. Sophia received her Early Music Post Graduate in Early Music from The Royal College of Music in summer 2000 where she studied with Lillian Watson and Margaret Cable. Since then she has studied with Mary King and Nigel Rogers, had masterclasses with Emma Kirkby, Eric Mentzel, Maria Jonas, Gabriel Garrido and Michael Chance and now studies with Jessica Cash.

In 2001 Sophia researched, presented, promoted and performed Songs for Mary Hodgson, a programme of songs from the 1690s' London Stage. She and harpsichordist Robert Howarth revived this programme in June 2005 year for Salisbury Festival, for the Bloomsbury Festival at Bloomsbury Theatre in London and for the Dolmetsch Christmas Lecture-Recital at the Merchant's House in Marlborough, Wilts.

In 2002 Sophia founded Rosa Mundi, a duo devoted to C17th and Renaissance music for plucked strings and voice with the Australian Lutenist Rosemary Hodgson. Designed to explore the exquisite music that bridges the renaissance and baroque styles, their tours in 2005 and 2006 offered a rare opportunity to hear this exciting duo breathe life into the music of a gentler age. Concerts sold out at Roche Court New Arts Centre- Salisbury Festival, King of Hearts Centre- Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Haslemere Museum- Dolmetsch Foundation, St. David's Cathedral Festival- Pembrokeshire, Merchant's House- Marlborough, Endicott House- Chagford, Lauderdale House in Highgate; The Merchant's House in Marlborough and Endicott House in South Devon. Programme titles: The Garden of Verses Songs, in honour of the English garden, Songs of Sundrie Kindes focussing on the publication of Thomas Greaves' first book of lute songs and John Dowland's Lachrymae and Zabaglione- a Musical Flummery Music from the beginning of the c17th, when the English Renaissance met Italian Baroque. During Rosemary's visits to the U.K. they were able to record enough music to release a C.D. which will be available soon on Maiseyday Music.

Sophia Brumfitt is also a member of the Medieval ensembles Daughters of Elvin and Bardos Band. Sophia has appeared in other Baroque Concerts with The Hanbarne Ensemble, at St. Neot's Festival, and Utrecht Conservatrium with Phoenix Rising and as guest soloist.