Samuel Harrison

Samuel Harrison (8 September 1760 – 25 June 1812) was an English singer. A tenor, he sang in notable concerts of the day, including the Concerts of Antient Music and the Three Choirs Festival.

Early life Harrison was born in Belper, Derbyshire, on 8 September 1760. Burton, a bass singer, was his earliest instructor. Harrison was trained as a boy soprano to sing solos at the Concerts of Antient Music and at the Society of Sacred Music in 1776. His voice did not break until he was eighteen; he then cultivated his tenor voice with the utmost care. George III, hearing him at one of the Queen's musical parties, had him engaged for the Handel Commemoration of 1784, where he sang "Rend' il sereno al ciglio" from Sosarme, and the opening recitative and air from Messiah; he thus sprang into the notice of musicians and fashionable people.

Early career, and marriage He made his first appearance at the Three Choirs Festival as principal tenor in 1781, at Gloucester; from 1786 until 1808 he sang at each of the Hereford meetings, and from 1801 till 1808 was a principal also at Gloucester and Worcester. The meeting of 1811 was managed by Harrison with others. In London he was a member of the Noblemen and Gentlemen's Catch Club, and he performed at the Professional Concerts from about 1783, and at the Society of Sacred Music from 1785 until 1790, when Michael Kelly succeeded him. In conjunction with John Ashley, Harrison conducted, and sang in, oratorios at Covent Garden Theatre during Lent of 1791; he sang in the Drury Lane oratorios in 1794, and at the concerts during Lent at the King's Theatre in 1795.