Meet the Team

Director of Music: Yvette Murphy

Yvette is a London-based conductor and organist. Alongside her work as Director of Music at St Saviour's, Yvette is Head of Education and Choral Outreach at The Temple Church, where she works closely with the probationers and choristers, as well as developing a programme of organ and choral outreach in schools across London. This builds upon her work as Director of the Westminster Schools Singing Programme for Diocese of Westminster, where she worked directly with around 1,400 pupils per week, and grew a programme reaching more than 20 Catholic primary schools.

As an organist, Yvette has recently performed recitals at Westminster Abbey, Southwark Cathedral, St Stephen's, Walbrook, and The Queens' College, Oxford. She also works as Courses Manager for Creative Oundle for Organists (COfO), helping to provide high-quality educational opportunities to young organists across the UK and abroad. As a conductor, Yvette directed Genesis Chorale, a choral society in West Byfleet, and is a regular conductor for St John of Jerusalem Festival Chorus, Hackney.

A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Yvette read for a degree in Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion, receiving the Lightfoot Prize for Ecclesiastical History. She also held the Organ Scholarship at Selwyn College, during which time she performed on BBC Radio 3, and recorded several CDs with Regent Records. During her time at Cambridge, Yvette was President of the prestigious Cambridge University Opera Society, Publicity and Fundraising Officer for Sing Inside, Cambridge (a charity bringing singing workshops into prisons). Before arriving in Cambridge, Yvette held the Organ Scholarship at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark, and was organist at the Parish Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead.

Yvette is always keen to welcome new volunteers to the Choir of St Saviour's, Pimlico. If you are interested in joining the choir, please do get in touch at music@stsp.org.uk.

Our 2025 - 2026 Choral Scholars

Hattie Twigger-Ross (Soprano Choral Scholar) recently graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in music. Whilst at university, she sang with Merton College choir, featuring as a soloist on their 2025 recording of English orchestral anthems with the Britten Sinfonia. Alongside singing, she is a keen conductor and musical leader, having been conducting scholar for Schola Cantorum of Oxford and musical director of the Oxford Alternotives (a university a capella group) from 2023-24, and assistant conductor for Oxford University Chorus from 2024-25. In addition to the scholarship at St Saviour’s, she is currently a choral scholar at St Martin-in-the-fields and teaches singing for the choristers of Holy Trinity Church, Guildford and Sutton Music Trust.

Mihira Philip (Alto Choral Scholar) recently completed her MPhil in French opera at St John’s College, Cambridge. During her Master’s, she was a member of The Choir of Gonville & Caius College. As an undergraduate studying History and Modern Languages, Mihira was a choral scholar in St John’s Voices, and regularly deputised at other College choirs. Throughout her time at university, she sang in concerts in France and Denmark, and on live radio broadcasts. Alongside choral music, Mihira enjoys jazz singing and playing the piano.

Jonathan Keyte (Tenor Choral Scholar) recently completed his Law degree at Robinson College, Cambridge. During his undergraduate studies, he was a choral scholar in the Robinson College Chapel Choir, touring and contributing to three professional recordings. A highlight of his time at Cambridge was performing Finzi’s Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice and Duruflé’s Requiem in the Duomo di Milano, which was broadcast on Italian television. Jonathan began his musical journey as a chorister at Chichester Cathedral, where he became accustomed to Anglican choral repertoire and tradition, as well as performing in concerts with HM Royal Marines Band and singing the Pie Jesu from Fauré’s Requiem under the direction of John Rutter. Alongside his legal studies, he finds deep resonance in the structure and storytelling of choral music, and is greatly looking forward to developing as a musician and contributing to the musical life of St Saviour’s.

Conor Foster (Bass Choral Scholar) hails from Belfast and graduated in 2022 from Clare College, Cambridge with a BA in Russian, Spanish and Linguistics and sang in the world-renowned college choir. A keen flautist, Conor’s highlights include playing principal in Scheherazade and Britten’s Young Person’s Guide with the Clare College Orchestra. He has sung the Bass arias of the John Passion in St. George’s, Belfast, as well as the choruses of Northern Ireland Opera’s Tosca, Beethoven’s 9th at Marylebone Music Festival, the Messiah at the London Handel Festival, Hanover Square, Hampstead Garden Opera’s Eugene Onegin, Shostakovich's 13th with the London Philharmonic and the Romanoff Foundation’s Orthodox Choir. Conor has recently been given the privilege of performing the Very-Low-Indeed bass line of the Rachmaninov Vespers with Armonico, whom he is most excited to sing with again this year. He is taught by Jonathan Brown of Westminster Abbey. Outside singing, Conor teaches Russian, French and Linguistics at Westminster School and also teaches in Learning Development, where he specialises in supporting pupils with specific educational barriers.

Grace McNamara (Alto Junior Choral Scholar) is a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain under Nicholas Chalmers, and previously the Training Choir under Greg Beardsell. Enjoying, in addition to choral music, the theatrics of operas and operettas, she has performed with Southgate Opera in productions including ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘La Vie Parisienne’. As a violinist, she formerly attended and volunteered at Potters Bar Community Music School, playing in orchestras, chamber groups, and aiding in the education of young musicians. She is also currently the alto Choral Scholar for West London Chorus.

Our Former Choral Scholars

2024 - 2025

Emily Coatsworth (Soprano)

Emily graduated last year from Clare College, Cambridge, where she studied Russian and Ukrainian, and was a choral scholar in Clare College Choir. She began singing in Oxford, first as a girl chorister with Frideswide Voices, Christ Church Cathedral, and then in various college chapel choirs and consorts in Oxford and London, including the Oxford Bach Soloists, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and in the inaugural Stile Antico Youth Consort. As well as choral singing, Emily enjoys solo singing, and has recently performed as a soloist in the Monteverdi Vespers in St John’s Smith Square, and in concerts in the USA, Netherlands and Belgium with Clare College Choir.

Maria Khokhar (Alto)

Maria is a recent graduate of the University of Cambridge, where she completed her Masters in Earth Sciences and has been singing with the Chamber Choir of Corpus Christi College. She also sings with the Bach Choir in London and previously performed with the University College London Chamber Choir. Maria has been involved in many operatic performances including Susanna (Carlisle Floyd), Thamos, King of Egypt (Mozart), (Rameau), and Iolanthe (G&S). Maria is enthusiastic about continuing her choral career in London with St Saviour’s and the Bach Choir.

Lucy Roberts (Alto)

Lucy is a London-based arts administrator and choral alto, previously holding scholarship positions with the choirs of The Queen’s College (Oxford), Jesus and Emmanuel Colleges (Cambridge) and St Luke’s Church, W12. Lucy read Music at the University of Cambridge and, since graduating, has worked in opera and early music management, currently as Artistic Planning Manager for The English Concert. A keen advocate for the particular joys of ensemble music-making, Lucy also plays the cello and double bass.

Fred Duffen (Bass)

Upon arriving at Selwyn College, Cambridge to study Music, Fred noticed a vacancy in the college choir and hasn’t looked back since, fully immersing himself in a wide choral repertoire. Whilst at Cambridge, Fred was also an Instrumental Award holder for clarinet and a dedicated cellist. His academic focus was on the perception of musical structures from both analytical and psychological perspectives. After completing his undergraduate degree, Fred pursued a master’s in Musicology at Jesus College, Oxford, where he served as Bass Graduate Lay Clerk at The Queen’s College Choir (2022-2023). During this time, he embraced more solo roles, notably performing as Jesus in Handel’s Brockes Passion. Since moving to London last summer, Fred has been a Choral Scholar at St Luke’s, Uxbridge Road (2023-2024). He also regularly deputises in various churches and ensembles, including the St John’s Singers and Vox Cantab.

N’Sira (Junior Choral Scholar - Alto)

N’Sira is in the 6th Form, and has been in numerous choirs, including at Repton Prep School, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, and currently, at Junior Trinity. As well as being a keen singer, N’Sira plays the piano, violin, harp and organ. Outside of school, N’Sira works as a volunteer at a local hospital and aspires to study Medicine at university.

2023 - 2024

Jennifer Hawthorn (Soprano) is a graduate of Royal Holloway University (BMus), where she held a Music Scholarship and sang in the University Chamber Choir and Chorus. Jennifer has also sung with Much Wenlock Parish Church Choir, RSCM Millenium Youth Choir and the Choir of St Alphege Church, Greenwich.

Francesca Corr (Alto) was a chorister at Wells Cathedral, and has sung with numerous choirs including the National Youth Choir and the Queens Diamond Jubilee Choir. She studied Music at the University of Bristol, where she was the recipient of the J H Fund for Music prize, which is awarded to the highest scoring final recitalist at the university.

Greg May (Tenor) is undertaking a Masters in Composition at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. A graduate of the University of Cambridge, where he sang for two years with the Choir of Clare College. A talented pianist, Greg enjoys working with young singers, recently working as a staff accompanist on a Rodolfus Choral Course.

Robert Nicholas (Bass) is a graduate of the University of Cambridge where he sang with the choirs of Fitzwilliam and Selwyn College. Whilst at Cambridge, he performed numerous solo roles in opera, operetta and musical theatre including Don Alfonso in Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart), Salieri in Mozart and Salieri (RimskyKorsakov) and Filiberto in Il Signor Bruschino (Rossini). Since graduating he has sung with St Edmund’s Schola, Vox Cantab, and the London Classical Choir.

Volunteering at St Saviour's

Alongside our Choral Scholars, St Saviour's is lucky to have a number of highly valued volunteers who come from all age groups and backgrounds.

If you have a background in choral singing and are looking for a good quality, flexible, and sociable choir to join on Sunday mornings, and for occasional evening services, St Saviour's could be perfect for you. Get in touch with the Director of Music, Yvette Murphy (music@stsp.org.uk) for more information.