Founded in Summer 2022, the Fulham Chamber Choir is a secular formation that came to life from the desire to explore repertoire rarely performed in London.
The choir is a mixed-voices auditioned ensemble of about 20, welcoming music students and experienced amateur singers with robust musicianship, who share a love for choral and chamber music, and an interest in the lesser-known and Avant-garde repertoire.
The season 2022/2023 will bring to our audiences a selection of works ranging from the elegant, airy Pergolesi and Rossini to the less polite Stravinsky, exploring unexpected sounds like the modernist noises of Pauline Oliveros.
The choir is based at St John’s Church, Fulham, a 3-minute walk from Fulham Broadway station.
We rehearse every Monday from 8 pm to 10 pm.
OUR RECENT PERFORMANCES
Claude Debussy, from Trois Chansons: 1) Dieu! qu’il la fait bon regarder
Clara Schumann, La Gondoliera
Robert Baird, from Shoreline: 2) The Ripples and the Stars (a piece composed by one of our basses!)
Ariel Ramirez, from Navidad Nuestra: 2) La Peregrinaciòn
Ariel Ramirez, from Navidad Nuestra: 5) Los Reyes Magos
THE DIRECTOR, GERARDO GOZZI
Gerardo is a conductor, composer and educator. For the past 10 years he has conducted amateur and student formations in Italy and the UK. He is an academic professor and Area Leader in Creative Musicianship and Improvisation at the Royal College of Music. Gerardo studied choral conducting with Marco Ghiglione (chorus master at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa and, formerly, the Teatro La Fenice in Venice) and orchestral conducting with Gianluigi Gelmetti (Accademia Chigiana, Siena) and Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli. After studying composition at the Royal College of Music with Dai Fujikura and orchestral conducting with Natalia Luis-Bassa and Howard Williams, he completed a PhD in composition at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutorship of Oliver Knussen. His music has been performed in renowned international festivals such as ManiFeste (Paris), Gaudeamus (Utrecht), Impuls (Graz). Gerardo is also artistic co-director and sound designer of Ensemble Resilience (Amsterdam).
THE ACCOMPANIST, DOMENICO GIOFFRE
Domenico, organist and pianist, is Director of Music at St John’s Church, Fulham, where he leads the SJ Schola Cantorum, the church’s professional choir, as well as coordinating Music@theHeart of Fulham, the annual series of music and poetry hosted at St John’s every Spring and Summer. An alumnus of the Royal College of Music, London, he has performed as a soloist, accompanist, and conductor with choirs and orchestras across Europe and the UK. Having graduated in Classics, Domenico also enjoys teaching languages (Italian, Latin, and Ancient Greek). He has collaborated both as an author and translator with the Poetry Society of London since 2013.
THE CHORAL SCHOLARS
St John’s Choral Scholars are an ensemble of 8 professionally trained singers, students and graduates of London’s major conservatoires and universities. They are a pivotal part of the experience at the Fulham Chamber Choir. Joining rehearsals and workshops on a regular basis, they create a fruitful trusting relationship with our singers and become a secure guide for each section (offering precious vocal advice, spotting technical problems and allowing the members to grow as semi-professional singers).
The scholars, appointed by the church to sing at the regular Sunday services, Festivals and Holy Days, explore a wide range of repertoire, performing the works of the great composers of the classical, romantic, and modern age, as well as medieval songs, and Gregorian Chant, under the direction of Domenico Gioffre.
The quality of their sound, and their operatic flair make them unique on the London church scene. The Scholars have sung at a number of prestigious venues in London and are in high demand for private parties and receptions both as an ensemble and opera soloists.
THE COMMITTEE
Andrew Collins, CHAIR
Richard Johns, TREASURER
Nancy Biggs
Alison Lamb
Anne Satchwell