White Horse Opera, Devizes - Barbara Gompels

Singing has always been Barbara's passion and while studying at medical school she was a keen member of the light opera group.

She joined Devizes White Horse Opera in 1996 and has enjoyed playing a part in ten of their opera productions. In 2005 Barbara played the part of Olympia the Doll in Tales of Hoffmann.

As a member of Worton & Marston 2000 directed by Michael Reed, musical director to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Barbara played the part of the wailing wife in their production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.

In 2004 Mike Reed returned to Devizes to stage Songs from the Shows, compered by George Baker ( Inspector Wexford), Barbara sang duets with Paul Arden Griffith (PAG) and Geraldine Aylmer-Kelly.

During 2006 Barbara toured locally with Bath Opera as the Queen of the Night in their Magic Flute. In 2007 she sang the role again for Swindon opera.

**WHO are currently touring with Mozart's Marriage of Figaro in which Barbara is the Countess.* *

Barbara also enjoys Oratorio and has sung the Soprano Solo parts in Mendelssohn’s Elijah for Portishead, Allegri Miserere for WHO, Poulenc's Gloria, Gounod's St Cecille Mass and Haydn's The Seasons for Chippenham Cantata. In December she sang Vivaldi's Gloria for Melksham Choral Society for whom she performed several pieces in their Summer concert 2007.

In 2007 Barbara performed in a Masterclass in London with Paul Arden- Griffith and Pam Smith and also had coaching in a Mini Masterclass by Rosalind Plowright OBE.

In addition Barbara sings regularly at birthday parties, weddings, funerals and concerts both solo and also duets with her friend Paula Boyagis as Due Voci. In 2007 Due Voci had several bookings for Christmas including a dinner for the army in the Great Hall at Larkhill and a Christmas Lunch at Urchfont Manor. Barbara has retired from General Practice to enable her to spend more time with her family and to allow more time for singing.