BIOGRAPHIES
Michael Bonshor - Musical Director
Dr. Michael Bonshor is delighted to have been appointed as the Musical Director for the Radcliffe on Trent Male Voice Choir, and is looking forward to working with them in the forthcoming season. Michael has a background as a professional singer with international contracts, and enjoys teaching singers of all ages and abilities. He has conducted large choral societies, amateur operatic societies, open-access community choirs, small-scale close harmony groups, chamber choirs and professional ensembles. As a Music Psychologist, specializing in musical wellbeing and performance psychology, Michael has presented his research at international conferences, and been awarded Fellowships at the University of Sheffield and the Institute of Musical Research, Royal Holloway, University of London. Michael’s book, ‘The Confident Choir: A Handbook for Leaders of Group Singing’, will be available in December 2017. For more information about any of Michael’s musical work or research, please contact him on pocketmaestro@hotmail.com
Eleonora Babitskaya - Accompanist
In 1999 the Choir was very fortunate in persuading Eleonora Babitskaya to be our Accompanist. Born in the Soviet Union, at a very young age Eleonora was recognised as an outstanding musical prospect. After 6 years at the Gnessin High School of Music for gifted children, Moscow. Eleonora’s studies continued at the Gnessin Music institute where she became piano assistant, a post she held till 1991. She was a regular performer with the Soviet State Philharmonic Society, specialising in chamber music and for 5 years was accompanist for Soviet Radio. From 1991 –1995, she was engaged by the Hochshule Fur Musik, Munich. In much demand as a master class accompanist for string players, Eleonora has played for Igor Oistrakh, Daniel Shafran, Vladimir Spivakov, Michael Flaxman and many other distinguished musicians in Russia, Austria, France, Czechoslovakia, Italy and Germany.
On three occasions - Russian Music Competition, Soviet Music Competition and International Tchaickovsky Competition – Eleonora was awarded the Diploma for best accompanist. In 2010 Eleonora instigated a memorable visit to Radcliffe from a ladies choir “Anima” from the Gnessen Music Institute.
