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Geoff Sewell

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Geoffrey David Sewell
File:Geoff sewell.jpg
Background information
Born1972
OriginNew Zealand
GenresClassical music, Opera, Pop-Opera
Occupation(s)Recording artist, entrepreneur, CEO of Incognito Artists
InstrumentVoice (Tenor)
LabelsIncognito Artists[1]
Websitehttp://www.incognitoartists.com
http://www.geoffsewell.co.uk

Geoffrey David Sewell (born 13 March 1972) is a tenor from New Zealand. He is a classical crossover singer, a multi platinum selling international recording artist, impresario, entrepreneur, creator and CEO of London based entertainment company Incognito Artists,[1] and co-creator of the world’s first ‘pop-opera’, classical crossover band Amici Forever.

Career

Sewell worked as a chartered accountant in New Zealand with the National Bank[2] and later in London at Salomon Smith Barney.[3] He worked part-time at recruitment companies Robert Walters and Joslin Rowe in London, while also performing on the West End, before leaving to start up his own company.

Sewell, his wife Simone Lanham and creative manager Tim Rogers created Incognito Artists in London in 2000.[1] Sewell is Global CEO and tenor of the company which creates tailored, surprise acts for luxury events worldwide. Incognito Artists employs stars from the West End, Broadway and the world of opera who blend ‘incognito’ into parties and events before showcasing their vocal and dance talents.

Sewell became an international classical crossover star in the so-called "opera band" Amici Forever[4][5] before leaving the singing group in 2006 and embarking upon a solo career. Though born in New Zealand, Sewell relocated to London, England, in 1997 after completing his studies at the Boston Conservatory of Music in the United States. After arriving in London, he performed on the West End and got into the music business with his wife, first founding the group Tenors Incognito and then other variations of the group before ultimately the duo founded the classical crossover group Amici Forever in 2002. With clear mainstream-crossover ambitions, the original lineup consisted of two tenors (Sewell, David Habbin), a baritone-bass (Nick Garrett), and two soprano singers (Jo Appleby, Tsakane Valentine).[6]

Sewell has had three No.1 albums with Amici’s "The Opera Band" and "Defined," and his own solo debut, "Believe",[7] reaching over 3.5 million album sales worldwide. He toured New Zealand with Incognito Artists and achieved a No.1 selling DVD with his Live in Concert DVD.[8] He has toured and had chart success in the United Kingdom, America, Japan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

With Amici Forever, he was nominated for a Classical Brit Award in the UK for best album. Sewell has achieved numerous accolades for his performance and philanthropic activities. Solo and with Incognito Artists he performs for corporate and private parties, sporting events and numerous charities around the world.

He has sung for the Queen, Princes Charles, William and Harry and members of the Royal Family at The Royal Albert Hall, Windsor Castle and other illustrious venues; Nelson Mandela; and various celebrities such as Sir Elton John, Leonardo DiCaprio and Victoria and David Beckham around the globe.[9][10]

Despite the commercial success and international fame of Amici Forever, Sewell left the group suddenly after his eldest daughter Sienna was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2006.[9][11] He sidelined his music career for a couple years before releasing his solo album debut, "Believe," produced by Nick Patrick, in 2008. With his return to the spotlight, Sewell made a crusade of autism awareness; for instance, he released Believe on the date of his daughter's fifth birthday and discussed treating autism at all media interviews.[12][13]

He is an ambassador of the St. James Theatre in London, the city’s newest theatre for 30 years, which opened in September 2012.[14]

Education and Personal Life

Sewell was born in Wellington. His older sister Julie died tragically when she was just 21. Sewell credits her loss as his inspiration to pursue his dreams of a singing career against all odds.[3]

Sewell was educated at Plimmerton Primary School in Wellington; Havelock North Intermediate and Havelock North High School, Hawkes Bay.[15] Sewell was a boy soprano in the school choir[16] and later took singing lessons from New Zealand opera singer Geoffrey De la Tour while working in Wellington as a chartered accountant. He gained a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the Victoria University of Wellington. Sewell attended the Boston Conservatory of Music in the United States studying opera and musical theatre.

Discography

Amici Forever – The Opera Band - UK and US and Japan editions (CD)
Amici Forever – The Opera Band Tour Edition with bonus tracks (CD)
Amici Forever – Olympia (BBC TV Olympics) (Single, CD)[6]
Amici Forever – Defined (CD)
Amici Forever – Defined - Australia and New Zealand Tour Edition with bonus tracks (CD)
Amici Forever PBS Special DVD
Geoff Sewell – Believe (CD)[17]
Incognito Artists – self-titled (CD)
Geoff Sewell – Believe Tour Edition with Incognito Artists album
Geoff Sewell and Incognito Artists Live In Concert DVD
Amici Forever, Nessun Dorma, Voices from the FIFA World Cup (CD)
Amici Forever, Senza Catene, Bravo 1 (CD)
Amici Forever, The Prayer, Bravo Act II (CD)
Geoff Sewell, O Sole Mio, Bravo Act II (CD)
Geoff Sewell, How Great Thou Art (credited as Howard Morrison but in fact Geoff Sewell’s recording), Simply The Best Voices (CD)
Geoff Sewell, You’ll Never Walk Alone, Simply The Best Voices (CD)

Notable Concerts

FA Cup Final, Cardiff, Wales 2002[6]
Champions League Final, Manchester, England 2003
Amici Forever – numerous tours of the UK, Australia, America, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan - 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Geoff Sewell and Incognito Artists tour of New Zealand, 2009
Christmas in the Park Auckland, NZ 2007
Classical Proms Christchurch, NZ 2008
Serenata, Classical Festival, Dorset, England 2010
Charity concert for Project K, Craggy Range, Hawkes Bay, NZ 2011[15]
Geoff Sewell and Bravo Amici, Lynn University, Boca Raton, USA 2012
Geoff Sewell and Bravo Amici, Lynn University, Boca Raton, USA 2013
ASB Tennis Classic, Auckland, NZ 2013[18]
Geoff Sewell and Incognito Artists, St James Theatre - April, May, July, September, October; London 2013
Geoff Sewell and Bravo Amici, Moscow 2013
Bravo Amici, 16 tour dates in Florida, 2014

Sporting Anthems

He has performed the national anthems at the FA Cup Final,[6] the Champions League Final, the Rugby World Cup,[19] the Rugby League World Cup Final,[6] The Six Nations, various rugby fixtures at Twickenham, at the ASB Tennis Classic in Auckland, NZ and on centre court at Wimbledon.[20]

Awards

With Amici Forever, Sewell was nominated for a Classical Brit Award in the UK for best album. Sewell has won various accolades for his performance and philanthropic activities during his career, including 'Air NZ New Zealander of the Year' runner up,[21] International Young Chartered Accountant of the Year and the youngest ever NZ Chartered Accountant to be awarded Fellowship status, FCA.

Charity

Sewell established ‘The Geoff & Simone Sewell Foundation’ 2010 (NZ) helping families in New Zealand to treat their children affected by autism. Sewell and Lanham believe recovery is possible using child-centric, appropriate healing interventions because of their own experience with their daughter.[22]

Sewell personally supports charitable organisations Treating Autism (UK); the Autism Trust (UK) and the National Society of Epilepsy (UK) as well as orchestrating hundreds of appearances and contributions to charitable events around the world as part of Incognito Artists since 2000.[23][24]

Major TV appearances

Amici Forever PBS Special (USA)[25]
Des and Mel (UK)
ITV (UK)
BBC (UK)
Good Morning America (USA)
The Today Show (USA)
The View (USA)[26]
Fox News (USA)
The Late Late Show (USA)[26]
Telethon (USA)
Masterchef (UK)
Sunrise (Australia)
Channel 9 (Australia)
Kerri –Anne Kennerley (Australia)
Festival of Remembrance (UK)
TVNZ The Halberg Awards (NZ)
Good Morning (NZ)
Dancing with the Stars (NZ)
Close Up (NZ)
The Paul Holmes Show (NZ)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Geoff Sewell and Incognito Artists". St James Theatre. 2013-05-26. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  2. ^ 27th Nov 2008 1:48 PM (2008-11-27). "Reach for sky says superstar | Hawke's Bay Today". Hawkesbaytoday.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-08-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b "How I Made It: Geoff Sewell | Entrepreneur Feature". MoneyMaker Magazine. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  4. ^ "Amici Forever". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  5. ^ "Arias and accountancy - Life & Style - NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 2004-10-19. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  6. ^ a b c d e Oakes, Keily (2004-08-30). "Entertainment | Olympic effort from Amici Forever". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  7. ^ "Geoff Sewell | Amplifier NZ Music". Amplifier.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  8. ^ "Geoff Sewell & Incognito - Live In Concert | Amplifier NZ Music". Amplifier.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  9. ^ a b No Cookies | Herald Sun
  10. ^ "The Popera Cafe presented by Incognito Artists". St James Theatre. 2013-07-14. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  11. ^ "Opera band star gives up group - National - NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 2006-01-25. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  12. ^ "Geoff Sewell Biography - ARTISTdirect Music". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  13. ^ "Stars team up to raise autism awareness (+video) - National - NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  14. ^ Geoff Sewell and Incognito Artists | St James Theatre
  15. ^ a b Have your say » BELINDA HENLEY 17th Oct 2011 8:41 AM (2011-10-17). "Superstar serenade up for grabs | Hawke's Bay Today". Hawkesbaytoday.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-08-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ 3rd Dec 2005 7:58 AM (2005-12-03). "`Popera' star coming home | Hawke's Bay Today". Hawkesbaytoday.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-08-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ Geoff Sewell (2008-04-07). "Geoff Sewell | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  18. ^ "It's party central at centre court - National - NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 2012-12-29. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  19. ^ "New Zealand National Anthem performed by Geoff Sewell at Rugby League World Cup 2008". YouTube. 2008-11-25. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  20. ^ My Event World - Geoff Sewell
  21. ^ Everett, Charlotte. "FINALISTS FOR THE 2010 NEW ZEALANDER OF THE YEAR (UK) ANNOUNCED | New Zealand News UK". Nznewsuk.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  22. ^ "Geoff Sewell on Close Up". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  23. ^ "Geoff Sewell of Amici Forever Raising NZ Autism Awareness - Eventfinda". Eventfinder.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  24. ^ "(HWI) - Hayley performs at Super Rugby match at Twickenham Stadium". Hayley Westenra International. Retrieved 2013-08-07.
  25. ^ Amici Forever in Concert (TV Movie 2005) - IMDb
  26. ^ a b Geoff Sewell - IMDb

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