The Rising Stars Recital Series welcomes back Old Wellensians in the early stages of their professional careers, offering audiences the opportunity to hear these emerging artists as they return to Wells.

Ruby, OW 2022, is going into her final year as a pianist at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the tuition of Sasa Gerzelj. Born in Hong Kong, she began piano at the age of four. She studied at the International Christian Quality Music Secondary and Primary school for 8 years as a music and art specialist with scholarship. Ruby came to England later and studied at the Wells Cathedral School from 2018 to 2022 as a specialist musician with a full scholarship, under the tuition of Olena Shvetsova for her piano. Ruby was the keyboard captain in Wells back in 2021.

Thea Callaghan, OW 2018, (photo Jon Foster) is a classically trained soprano from the Isle of Wight, with a passion for the dramatic and lyrical richness of opera, Thea is known for her poised stage presence as well as her unique sensitivity and a deep connection to the music.

Thea completed her Postgraduate studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in July 2025 studying under Elizabeth Donovan, Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, Mary King and Caradog Williams. During her time at RWCMD she undertook the operatic roles of Mrs Gobineau (The Medium, Menotti),  Donna Anna (cover - Don Giovanni, Mozart) and Puck (cover - A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Britten). Thea was a recipient of the Elias Prize for Soprano 2024 and her studies were supported by the Ted and Val Yates Scholarship. Thea was a bursary scholar for the BBC National Chorus of Wales and made her BBC Proms debut with them in July 2024.