Lawrence is an international vocal coach, performer, conductor, writer and consultant with over 20 years of experience and is currently Head of Singing at Laine Theatre Arts, Epsom.
Lawrence trained as a classical baritone to postgraduate level at the world-famous Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He studied with two of the country’s leading baritones, Brian Rayner Cook and Adrian Clarke and participated in workshops and masterclasses with leading singers, teachers and directors such as Jeffery Skidmore OBE, Paul Spicer, David Saint, David Lawrence and Simon Halsey CBE. He was awarded the Oratorio Prize at the Conservatoire.
Throughout his performing career, Lawrence has sung in many different styles including choral and oratorio work such as the premiere of Andrew Downes’ New Dawn with the University of Central England Orchestra, Mozart’s Requiem in Symphony Hall with the CBSO, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs and Handel’s Judas Maccabeus; pop and backing singing (Chris De Burgh); and opera singing, with many roles including Dr Bartolo and Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro), Mr Gedge (Albert Herring), Ashmodeus (Tobias and the Angel), Sharpless (Madama Butterfly) and Donner (Das Rheingold).
Lawrence now specializes in the art of oratorio performance and his programmes include major works by Bach, Vaughan Williams and Mahler, with a special interest in the works of Finzi aided by working alongside leading specialists, in performances at St Mary-le-Bow, London, Symphony Hall, Birmingham, and St John’s, Smith Square. Lawrence was also privileged to sing Marius (Les Miserables) and Raoul (Phantom of the Opera) and has performed in many cabarets.
Lawrence’s current and previous teaching includes West End and international musical theatre and pop singers, including TV personalities such as Matt Baker from Blue Peter and Strictly Come Dancing, Charlie Stemp from Half a Sixpence and Crazy for You, Ella Henderson from The X Factor, Lily James from Disney’s Cinderella and Daisy Ridley from the Star Wars franchise. His workshops have also included the Young Artists of America production of The Wizard of Oz (Washington DC) and Julie Andrews’ production of My Fair Lady (Sydney Opera House), as well as schools across the UK.
Lawrence is also active as a writer and presenter, with recent appearances including a pre-performance event on My Fair Lady at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, a presentation to the Association of Teachers of Singing in Bristol and a weekend workshop on musical theatre at Benslow Music. He has regularly contributed to Music Teacher Magazine as a reviewer and author of feature articles. In addition to being on Radio 3 as a voice expert, he has also been consultant to Sheffield University’s Musicals series and ABRSM Singing for Musical Theatre exams.
