MARTIN OXENHAM (baritone) gained his early musical experience playing the tuba in the National Youth Orchestra. After reading mathematics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he received a foundation scholarship from the Royal College of Music where he won several prizes, including that for English Song. He studied singing with Edward Brookes. Following a spell in the Glyndebourne Chorus, also understudying and singing small roles, he became in 1995 a Vicar Choral of the St. Paul's Cathedral Choir, with whom he has sung solos on many broadcasts and recordings. Although he has appeared in major roles with many of the smaller professional touring opera companies and understudied at ENO, he has concentrated more on oratorio and song; as a versatile and busy oratorio soloist, he has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Barbican, Florence Opera House, the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh and on BBC Radio 3 as well as at festivals in Britain and abroad, with the City of London Sinfonia, RPO, London Mozart Players, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Cambridge University Chamber Orchestra under distinguished conductors such as Sir David Willcocks and Sir Roger Norrington.

Giving song recitals continues to be a particular pleasure, whether it be a tour of Scotland singing Schubert’s Winterreise or an opportunity to explore neglected British repertoire as he does with two previous recital CDs recorded for the Meridian label which have received critical acclaim and with a new CD of the complete Balfour Gardiner songs, released on the Regent label September 2014 .

Leisure activities include the exploration of the British waterways network – and canalside places of interest – on his narrowboat.