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, 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 and later in London at Salomon Smith Barney. 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. Sewell is Global CEO and tenor of the company which creates surprise performances. Performers blend incognito into parties and events before singing and dancing. They also perform full concerts.
Sewell became an international classical crossover star in the so-called "opera band" Amici Forever before leaving the singing group in 2006 and embarking upon a solo career. Sewell moved 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. The original line-up consisted of two tenors (Sewell, David Habbin), a baritone-bass (Nick Garrett), and two soprano singers (Jo Appleby, Tsakane Valentine).
Sewell has had three No.1 albums with Amici's "The Opera Band" and "Defined," and his own solo debut, "Believe", 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. 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.
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 venues; Nelson Mandela; and various celebrities such as Sir Elton John, Leonardo DiCaprio and Victoria and David Beckham.
Despite the success of Amici Forever, Sewell left the group suddenly after his eldest daughter Sienna was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2006. He sidelined his music career for a couple years before releasing his solo album debut, "Believe," produced by Nick Patrick, in 2008. Sewell then publicised autism awareness; for instance, he released Believe on the date of his daughter's fifth birthday and discussed treating autism at all media interviews.
He is an ambassador of the St. James Theatre in London, which opened in September 2012.
Education and personal life
Sewell was born in Wellington. His older sister Julie died when she was 22. Sewell credits her loss as his inspiration to pursue his dreams of a singing career against all odds.
Sewell was educated at Plimmerton Primary School in Wellington; Havelock North Intermediate and Havelock North High School, Hawkes Bay. Sewell was a boy soprano in the school choir 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
Albums
See also
Amici Forever
Concerts
FA Cup Final, Cardiff, Wales 2002
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 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 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