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Artist Description | Stuart Pendred
"My spiritual heritage is The Salvation Army - the church movement, whose tag-line ‘Heart to God, Hand to man’ is known largely for its work with the socially disadvantaged and for its bonnets, tambourines and brass bands. Walk down any high street often enough and you’ll have seen them playing God songs and carols and whatever else the season calls for. My life has been surrounded and soaked in music since birth.”
“I never, ever thought my life would have taken the journey it’s taken - and yet it all feels right.” Stuart Pendred - singer, actor, writer and slightly fanatical, season ticket holding, Chelsea fan - has been on quite a learning curve of late.
“I guess that is one of the exciting things about journeying with God; you can have thoughts, plans and dreams - and as I reflect back on my journey so far I’ve had plenty of those. Most remain unfulfilled, some are in pieces and some are honed, polished and different to how I first imagined them - and much better as a result. But in all of this life is simply much better as a result of allowing the Master-potter to take charge.”
Stuart’s singing career began when he sang the alto-line with the singing company (the young people’s choir) at Bedford Congress Hall Salvation Army. Since then his voice has dropped a little and his career has risen. He has performed in concerts throughout the UK, Europe and the USA where particular highlights include appearances at the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Opera House; singing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and appearing alongside artists such as Sting, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Westlife, The Opera Babes, Il Divo and the Motown legend Lionel Ritchie. Stuart was also given the incredible honour of being invited to sing Amazing Grace at the House of Commons last year at the launch, by his widow, of the former Prime Minister of Macendonia Boris Trajkovski’s International Foundation. The event was hosted by MP’s Alistair Burt and Lord David Alton. Amazing Grace was Boris Trajkovski’s favourite hymn and was sung at his state funeral and specifically requested by his widow at the launch.
Then there was Blue Peter. And, yes, he did get the badge, despite the fact that he was in his mid-30s at the time. He has sung on Top of the Pops and even appeared alongside Katie (a.k.a. Jordan) Price for the UK’s entry for Eurovision on BBC’s Making Your Mind Up. Proof, if it were needed, that taking yourself too seriously is a dead end in this business.
Stuart has recently formed a new company, Opera Prima that provides classical music to the sports and corporate hospitality arenas. Highlights for Stuart already include performing before 75,000 at Twickenham for the RFU, the Davis Cup for the LTA; the British Olympic Association and, numerous pre-match performances at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea Football Club.
Amongst all that, Stuart has also continued his acting career with appearances on TV including Spooks, London’s Burning, The Bill, Rosemary and Thyme and Casualty, as well as theatre productions including Les Miserables, Calamity Jane, Wuthering Heights, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth and the opera’s Carmen and The Magic Flute.
So that’s the intro. Now for the main event:
Ask Stuart what his high point so far is and he’ll tell you straight: the recording and release of his debut solo album Benedizioni. Like all labours of love, this one was a long time coming, but worth every moment.
From aging classics like “Amazing Grace” and “It Is Well With My Soul” to contemporary must-haves like “Facedown” and “Let My Words Be Few”, Stuart’s voice adds depth and breadth in ways you would never have thought possible.
Benedizioni is an album unlike any other. It joins hymns from the past with more recent worship songs, alongside some of Stuart’s own compositions. Together they reflect a remarkable journey of faith, delivered with power, sensitivity and some of the most luscious arrangements you could ever hope for.
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