Olivia Sparkhall

Olivia was educated at St Paul’s Girls’ School, then at Durham and Cambridge Universities, conducting the Hatfield Chamber Orchestra (Durham) and Addenbrooke’s Hospital Choir (Cambridge). She was awarded a Choral Scholarship at Peterhouse Chapel Choir, Cambridge, having sung with Hatfield College Chapel Choir whilst at Durham.  After moving to the South West, she spent five years conducting the choir of St Mary’s Church Fordingbridge before founding the Avon Valley Youth Choir which provided opportunities for talented local singers whilst raising funds for local charities. A huge Musical Theatre enthusiast, Olivia conducts a wildly popular choir which specialises in songs from the shows.

​

Olivia read for an MA in Voice Pedagogy with the University of Wales, and enjoys contributing to journals on the subjects of vocal warm-ups for children, voice health for teenagers, and composing for the community.

At Godolphin School, Olivia directed Godolphin Voices, Godolphin Vocal Ensemble and the Senior String Ensemble. In Salisbury Cathedral, Olivia conducted a 400-strong choir of local school-children at the Barnardo’s Young Supporters’ Concerts 2012 and 2013. In 2014 she conducted a massed children’s choir in the orchestra-accompanied Folk Songs of the Four Seasons by Vaughan Williams. 

She has conducted at a variety of prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Hall, Royal Festival Hall, St John’s Smith Square, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral, St Paul's Covent Garden, Oriel College Oxford, Sheffield City Hall, Albert Hall Nottingham and the Lowry Theatre at BBC Media City in Salford. Under Olivia’s direction, Vocal Ensemble has appeared on the BBC Songs of Praise competition in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2018, receiving the runners-up trophy in 2012. The choir won the Barnardo’s National Choral Competition in 2011 and 2015.

In 2016, Vocal Ensemble was invited to sing for the Barnardo’s 150th Anniversary service in St Paul’s Cathedral which attracted attention from the national press. The choir has completed a commissioning partnership project, having given the premiere of a cycle of four songs for SSA and harp to the words of Julian of Norwich. In 2017  ‘All Shall Be Well’ by Carol J Jones, in 2018 'Our Endless Day' by Hilary Campbell, in 2019 'Love was his meaning' by Gemma McGregor, and in 2021 'We sekyn here rest' by Master of the King's Music, Judith Weir. 

​

Olivia conducts the Fordingbridge Musical Theatre choir, a wildly successful choir which revels in the joy of singing especially arranged musical theatre numbers in glorious harmony. In 2023 the choir supported Gareth Malone on his national tour. Part of the network of Singspace choirs, Fordingbridge Musical Theatre choir also collaborates with other choirs, performing in London's West End as well as around the country. Olivia draws on her specialism in vocal pedagogy to bring voice technique work to rehearsals, as well as offering the incredible social and mental health benefits of being in such a vibrant choir to the residents of Fordingbridge (and the surrounding area).