About
Conceptus is an international, multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary ensemble with a membership drawn from the United Kingdom, Poland and Australia. Formed in 2021 during the Coronavirus Pandemic, the ensemble is dedicated to bringing new life to great works of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and beyond, with a particular emphasis on Late Romantic British vocal music and song cycles. Their debut album, “Gods, Ghosts and Monsters” was released by Divine Art Records in May 2024 and features music by Butterworth, Warlock, Holst, Bridge and Collins.
Works
Conceptus has a close relationship with Australian composer Timothy Collins and have recorded his arrangements and compositions extensively. His “Sea Song”, set to the poetry of New Zealand author and poet Katharine Mansfield, also features in the debut album, and has been made into a film directed by James Cardell-Oliver. Tim has also composed the “Rilke Lieder” for the group, a cycle set to poetry by Austrian poet and writer Rainer Maria Rilke.
Conceptus has also commissioned works by German composer Christoph Ritter, whose Requiem is set for a world premiere and recording in 2025.
Scott Robert Shaw, tenor
Artistic Director
Born and raised in Australia, Scott has been performing as a professional singer since childhood. He began his career and musical education in the British choral tradition, singing as a boy soprano in the St George’s Cathedral Perth choir, where he sang for five years. After his voice change he attended the McDonald College of the Performing Arts in Sydney, where he studied music and acting in the Stanislawksy/Laban tradition, and was awarded a full scholarship for Excellence in Performance. He then attended the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music Studies and was given the Most Exceptional Contribution to the Arts award from Wesley College, University of Sydney.
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Klara Gronet, violin
Klara Gronet was born in Warsaw, Poland in 2000. She started playing the violin at the age of six in Anna Rzymyszkiewicz’s class in Warsaw. Having obtained her Bachelor Degree with Prof. Robert Szreder in the Conservatorium of Maastricht (NL) and Master's with Prof Mihaela Martin in the Hochschule für Musik and Tanz Cologne, Klara is now continuing her studies, Konzert Examen, in Cologne with Prof Ye Eun Choi.
She has won a number of prestigious national and international competitions and has given several critically acclaimed solo recitals in the Netherlands and in Poland. She has also performed as a soloist with Amadeus Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio, The Symphony Orchestra of Delft and others. Klara has participated in masterclasses with many prominent musicians, such as Prof. Dora Schwarzberg, Prof. Stephan Picard and Prof. Marianne Piketty. She has performed in Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Phillips Hall in Eindhoven, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Duke’s Hall in London, as well as the Warsaw Philharmonic, NOSPR, Studio S1, the Royal Castle in Warsaw and many other concert halls. In 2022 Klara has become an Alumni of the prestigious Academy Villecroze in France. She has been also supported by the Julian Cochran Foundation and received a scholarship for her musical development. Klara Gronet plays a highly valuable violin made by Max Muller (Amsterdam 1928) which has been loaned by M. C. Rijsemus (Maastricht).
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Hugo Eedle, cello
Hugo Eedle is a 25-year-old cellist from Scotland. He began playing the cello at the age of ten, studying with Alex McQuiston from age 13. From 2013 to 2017 he was a student at Chethams School of Music, where he was taught by Nicholas Jones. During this time, he won the Dewhust Torevell Competition with his string quartet.
Hugo also enjoys playing chamber music, and has performed with his string quartet at venues such as Bridgewater Hall (in Manchester), Barrat Dur institute (Oslo), Mansfield street (London), and the Royal Northen college of Music. He is Scholar of ‘Yehudi Menuhin live music now’ and has performed many concerts around Cologne.
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George Warren, piano
The organist, pianist, and improviser George Fletcher Warren hails from Durham, United Kingdom. At the early age of three, he showed a passion for the piano and began taking piano lessons. In 2012, he moved to Manchester, UK, where he secured a place at the prestigious music school 'Chetham's School of Music.' He finished his time here with the LRSM diploma in organ literature performance.
In 2015, Warren made the decision to move to Germany to study at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne. There, he received tuition from Prof. Dr. Winfried Bönig (Organ), Prof. Thierry Mechler (Organ Improvisation), and Michael Gees (Piano Improvisation), and graduated with top honors in organ performance. In the Cologne city center, Warren serves as the basilica organist of St. Kunibert’s Church and as a répétiteur in the Cologne Cathedral Music.
His passion lies in improvisation on the organ, piano, and synthesizer, leading to exciting projects such as improvised song recitals with singers, improvisation evenings for piano and synthesizer with Michael Gees, and improvisation workshops for soloists and vocal ensembles.
Performances and recordings, both solo and with choir and orchestra, have taken Warren to venues including the Berlin and Cologne Philharmonics, the Minster in Konstanz, and Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral, collaborating with various ensembles such as the WDR Radio Choir, the WDR Symphony Orchestra, and the Camerata Vocale Berlin.
Outside of music, Warren has a passion for automotive technology, nature, and exploring new places.
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