Ollie began singing from the age of eight as a chorister
at both New College, Oxford and Winchester Cathedral
(where he met Jules). He was a member of the National
Youth Choir of Great Britain from 1999 until 2005. Ollie
also learned the French Horn and the Trumpet, playing
in several orchestras, and is a keen pianist.
Before going to music college, Ollie studied degrees in
Music, Music Technology and briefl y dabbled in
Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. Whilst at University he
sang with the choirs of Magdalene College, Cambridge
and Trinity College, Cambridge before going on to
study at the British Institute of Florence and the Guildhall
School of Music and Drama. He was a Maths and English
Tutor before Blake began.
He says of touring: “I’ve been incredibly lucky to have
seen so much of the world, and at such a young age.
Before I was even at University I’d toured throughout
Europe, Australia, America and Africa with various
choirs, and Blake has taken me further still.”
Ollie is also a keen sailer, skier and horseman, and whilst
living in Africa climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and rafted
the Nile. He has also survived both a light plane crash
and being held hostage in an armed bank robbery. He
grew up in the countryside with a plethora of domestic
wildlife, including his fi ve dogs.
“I am one of those lucky people who genuinely like
being up there on stage, singing my heart out. For me
that’s what it’s all about; entertaining. And it’s essential
to enjoy yourself, because that way, the audience tend
to enjoy themselves as well.”
