Michael Sargeant
Due to a serious neurological condition Michael Sargeant took an enforced sabbatical from performance for two years. He has improved significantly and is playing once again. Hopefully the coming year should see further improvement. Meanwhile the ensemble still exists and other performers are flourishing.

Recordings
The new recording entitled ‘Medieval Music’ is proving very popular and recently two tracks from the CD were played on BBC Radio 3 ‘Late Junction’. Unfortunately, this is now no longer available, except as collectors vinyl.

New Concert Programmes
This year has seen the premier of a new concert programme featuring Michael Sargeant and Dante Ferrara entitled ‘Knaves and Fawkes’. We have also revised ‘Maken Melodye’ so please see the new concert list for a full description. Recent concert performances have been given in Lincoln, Hemel Hempstead and Hern Bay.

Changes to the Ensemble
The established group now includes Dante Ferrara a talented singer and string player and Richard
Fentiman an accomplished musician, actor, singer and director.

Richard Fentiman trained at Trinity College of Music (London) and St. Catherine's Drama School
(Guildford) and has extensive experience as a Broadcaster, Director, Actor, Singer and Pianist. Acting
experience includes amongst others: A Rock version of "Dido & Aeneas" at the Bloomsbury Theatre,
The Captain of the Guard in "Son of Man" at Farnham, The Victorian Gentleman in the prize winning
play "The Secret Museum " at the Harlequin Theatre Redhill and (his favourite) as Scrooge in a touring
version of "A Christmas Carol". As a musical Director he has presented musical entertainments throughout the country. For six years he was music tutor at "seeAbility" (The Royal School for the Blind). Presently he is working with two organisations which he founded to encourage and trains adults with a visual impairment in the skills of acting and choral singing:- Scarab Theatre and The Richard Fentiman Singers. He is much in demand as a speaker, compere and lecturer. He was a finalist in an international speaking competition in 1998 and recently spoke the part of The Narrator in Honegger's Oratorio King David. Richard sings regularly with the Choir of the Orchestra of St. John's Smith Square.

Dante Ferrara is usually associated with performances of Renaissance music as a soloist and is currently working on a Tudor concert programme with Michael. A professional string player since 1984, Dante has recorded and performed across the world from Albania to Australia and the UK to USA. Dante has made a particular study of the Orpharion and this features on his latest CD entitled ‘Rosasolis’. He recently joined Noise of Minstrels as a new member but an old friend.