DANIEL TOOMBS
Musical Director
HANNA WARD
President | Soprano
Hanna is a third-year Psychology student and vocal scholar. Growing up, Hanna has been a member of several choirs, and has enjoyed working in both ensembles and as a soloist. At St Andrews, Hanna has performed in several Chamber Opera productions and MUST musicals, with recent roles including Ella in Cinderella, Serpina in Pergorlesi's La Serva Padrona, Lieschien in Bach's Coffee Cantata, and she is currently preparing to play Sandra in Big Fish. Hanna is thrilled to be the President of MadGroup this year and to help continue the group's incredible legacy with such a talented and brilliant team of singers.
FLORENCE GILL
Soprano
Florence is a second-year studying IR and Spanish. She began singing as a chorister at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, and has since been a member of NYCOS, performing in several Edinburgh International Festival opening concerts and at the Royal Albert Hall. She held a choral scholarship at Morningside Parish Church for two years and sang with St Leonards Chapel Choir last year. Outside of singing, Florence has played violin since she the age of three, performing in chamber orchestras and string ensembles.
OCTAVIA DAWSON
Treasurer | Soprano
Octavia is a 2nd year direct-entry maths student. Having sung in her local church choir from a young age, Octavia became a Salisbury Cathedral chorister when she was 9, taking part in many international tours, CD recordings and BBC broadcasts over the years. She holds an ARSM singing diploma with distinction, and is a member of many choirs, including St Salvator’s chapel choir. When she’s not sleeping, eating, or in lectures, Octavia spends about 90% of her free time doing what she loves most - singing in choirs and making fond musical memories with her friends, and she can’t wait for another special year of madrigals and madness!
MARY KALINSKI
Soprano | Secretary
Mary is a third year English student, and is thrilled to be entering her third year in Madgroup! She has sung in church choirs and school ensembles from a young age, and has been an active member of MUST musical productions and church choirs since beginning her studies at St Andrews. She currently holds a St Leonard's choral scholarship at the university.
ANNA SCOTT-BROWN
Alto
Anna is a second-year studying French, German, and Management. She is a member of NYCOS and its Chamber Choir, performing in the opening concert of the Edinburgh International Festival, and with the London Philharmonic performing Holst’s The Planets in the Usher Hall. Anna also sang with St Leonard's Chapel Choir last year. Aside from singing, she plays the violin in the St Andrews and Fife Community Orchestra, and, when feeling brave enough, goes for dips in the sea.
MATILDA STEWART
Vice President | Alto
Matilda is a fourth-year Physics student. As well as being in the Madrigal Group, she holds a choral scholarship with St Salvator's Chapel Choir. In school, she worked on her DipABRSM and was a member of the Chamber Choir, Pipe Band, and National Youth Orchestra of Scotland. She is excited, yet increasingly sentimental, as she heads into her last year singing with the coolest bunch of people you could ever hope to sing with!
OLIVIA MCCORMACK
Alto
Olivia is a second year English and Film student from Edinburgh. Her singing experience includes her school’s chamber choir, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and a year-long choral scholarship at Morningside Parish Church. Olivia also plays the flute, receiving music scholarships both at school and at St Andrews. Her favourite memory of Mad Group so far is the Peterskirche concert during the Vienna 2025 Winter Tour.
ALEX BARNARD
Alto
Alex is in fourth year studying German and English. She has sung in choirs at home in London at venues including St John’s Smith Square, St James’s Piccadilly and St Paul’s Cathedral. Whilst studying at King’s College School she held a music exhibition and was a part of its King’s Nine. As part of Pitch Purple, an acclaimed all-female cappella group, she toured annually to the Edinburgh Fringe. She is also a member of the St Andrews Chamber Orchestra, and enjoys playing her saxophone at Jazz night every week!
PHILIP JURAS
Tenor
Hailing from Arlington, Virginia, Philip has had quite the choral experience growing up. From performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC to the singing of the US national anthem for a First Lady, he is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue on in my choral journey here at St Andrews. The vocal blend that this group provides along with the bubbly yet professional rehearsals is truly the epitome of an extracurricular musical group, and I couldn’t be more fortunate to have been accepted into this magical madrigal choir for my one year of studies here as a postgraduate. Going from the trenches of a four year undergraduate engineering degree at Georgia Tech in Atlanta with little room for extracurricular music to studying history here with ample time for delving into music is most certainly a dream come true, and I look forward to this coming year. I can only hope it doesn’t slip by too quickly, Aien aristeuein!
SAM HANCOCK
Tenor
Sam is a fourth-year student studying History. He is a vocal scholar at St Andrews, and has been singing in chamber and community choirs throughout his time at high school, where he was awarded a prize for choral singing in his final year. He has also enjoyed performing as a jazz singer at venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
TERENCE O'NEILL
Tenor
HARRY STUART
Tenor
ROHIT MODAK
Bass
Rohit is a second-year studying Economics and Mathematics. He has been in the National Youth Choir of Scotland since 2022 where he has been a part of many Edinburgh International Festival opening concerts and has sung at the Usher Hall and St Giles' Cathedral. Outside of singing, Rohit has played the piano from a young age and have performed in many groups like the Edinburgh Schools Jazz Orchestra.
JOSH LIGHTWING
Tour Manager | Bass
Josh is a fourth-year studying German and Spanish. Going into his fourth year with Madrigal Group, he is also a Choral Scholar in St Salvator’s Chapel Choir and sings in Chamber Choir. In his first year, he held a choral scholarship with the Renaissance Singers. Previously, he was head chorister at St Peter’s School, York, where he also picked up trumpet and guitar. He is an alumnus of the Yorkshire Youth Choir and the 18-25 National Youth Choir, with which he performed in the Royal Albert Hall several times, including Beethoven’s Ninth by Heart at the BBC Proms in 2024.
LUKE ACHESON
Bass
Luke is a direct-entry second-year studying Mathematics. He has played clarinet and piano since he was little and started singing in secondary school as a member of his school choir. Luke played clarinet for the City of Belfast Youth Concert Band and in his school orchestra.
BEN MCCLURE
Bass
Ben is a third-year Geography and Environmental Science student. Having been a member of St. Salvator's Chapel Choir in his first year, he joined Madgroup to continue exploring the wonderful music scene present in St Andrews. He is a vocal scholar within the Laidlaw Music Centre, and has been singing for three years after having played violin since youth. Throughout higher education he have enjoyed operating in both choral and soloist contexts. He very much looks forward to many great musical experiences to come with such a great group of people.
CURRENT MEMBERS
Madrigal Group currently has 17 members: 16 singers and the Musical Director. Amongst the group is the committee, who are elected each year by other members.
DEPUTY LIST
Emily Kemp
Faith Sheridan
Ryan Lin
George Capell
Thomas Nussbaum-Richman