Clemmie is a versatile Oxford-based singer who has built up a diverse and extensive range of experience performing and recording as a soloist and ensemble vocalist both nationally and internationally. With a BA from Bristol in Archeaology and an MMus in Ethnomusicology from SOAS, London, clemmie then went on to study singing. One of only sixteen vocalists selected for the Pulse solo vocal ensemble led by Mary King at Southbank Centre in 2009, Clemmie went on to gain a distinction in postgraduate studies at Trinity Laban with her vocal teacher Alison Wells.
As a member of London Voices since 2011 Clemmie has featured on numerous film soundtrack recordings including: Jupiter Ascending, The Lords of the Rings, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, Snow White and the Huntsman with Florence + the Machine. She has also provided backing vocals for a range of musicians including Bellowhead, Spiritualized, Coldplay and Bobby McFerrin.
As an Alto soloist Clemmie works with numerous choirs and choral societies across the country -Passed highlights include: Live broadcast on BBC Radio 3 with OAE and Vivialdi’s Women at SJSS; Bach Magnificat and Haydn Mass in Ripon Cathedral; Vivaldi’s Gloria and Dixit Dominus with New College Choir, under Edward Higginbottom in the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford; Handel’s Messiah with London Early Opera at Handel House; Britten and Purcell with Aldeburgh Voices under Ben Parry; and contralto soloist for a new work by Dario Palermo as part of ‘Sonorities’ at Kings Place. Most recently she featured in a new commission for BBC Radio 4 of ‘Amo Amas Amusical’ with Mary Beard, broadcast on 31st Dec 2018.
Opera highlights include: World Premiere of Stockhausen’s Mittwoch with London Voices and Birmingham Opera Company for the London 2012 Festival; Britten’s Peter Grimes and War Requiem on tour in UK and China with London Voices.
Choral highlights include: UK premiere of Per Nørgård’s Symphony No. 3 at Proms 2018; European premiere of Stevie Wishart’s vocal work Out of This World with Sinfonye and BBC Singers; Decca recording of Hildegard of Bingen with Sinfonye produced by Guy Sigsworth In 2013 (which reached no. 6 in Classical Charts). With Britten Sinfonia Voices past projects include: Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ under Sir Mark Elder, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Birtwistle at 80: Fields of Sorrow at Milton Court Concert Hall, and James MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross (5* reviewed).
Since 2014 Clemmie has performed with Emma Kirkby’s group Dowland Works delivering performances, workshops, and masterclasses at festivals across the UK. And she is delighted to be part of her 70th birthday celebration concert at the Wigmore Hall in Feb 2019. In 2022 Clemmie joined Clare Norborn’s company ‘The Telling’ to tour ‘Vision’ in UK and abroad. In 2023, along with colleagues from Dowland Works, Clemmie has created a new group called Dowland’s Foundry performing works from the golden age of Elizabethan song.
With her vocal trio Voice Clemmie has, over the last 12 years, performed throughout UK, USA and Europe and collaborated and recorded with world-class artists including Roderick Williams, Matt Haimovitz, Julius Drake and Dufay Collective and appeared live on BBC Radio 3.
Clemmie also enjoys collaborating across art forms. She has worked with a number of visual / sound artists including Turner Prize Winner Martin Creed, Marianna Spimnett at Serpentine Gallery, London, Sam Belinfante and Laure Prouvost, Brussels. She loves the diversity of music her work allows her to explore; everything from the early notation of Hildegard and Dowland to fresh off the press contemporary music and improvisation.
The Oxford Times – Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonnelle
“… her gloriously rich voice made the Agnus Dei a real tour de force… the sublime Qui Tollis; another highlight.”
Marilynne Davies, Ripon Gazette – Bach Magnificat & Haydn Nelson Mass (Ripon Choral Society 60th Anniversary concert, Ripon Cathedral)
“…Clemmie Franks, alto, delighted us all with her rich, warm toned voice and…engaged with the audience most effectively”.
The Henley Standard – Haydn’s Nelson Mass (Missa in Angustiis) (Benson Choral Society)
“The singing of Gloria was enriched by Franks’s beautiful alto voice”