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St Saviour's
Pimlico
Meet the Team
Director of Music: Yvette Murphy
Yvette is a London-based conductor, organist, and mezzo-soprano. 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 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), and Evensong Officer for the Minerva Festival (promoting the work of marginalised gender composers in choral music). 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.
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A passionate educator, Yvette is currently Choral Director for the Diocese of Westminster, working to reinvigorate music education in Catholic primary schools, establishing regional choirs across the Diocese. She is also working as Courses Manager for Creative Oundle for Organists, helping to provide high-quality educational opportunities to young organists. As a conductor, Yvette worked with Genesis Chorale, a non-auditioned choral society in West Byfleet, and is a regular conductor for St John of Jerusalem Festival Chorus, Hackney.
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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.
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Our 2024 - 2025 Choral Scholars
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 Khokar (Alto)
Maria Khokhar 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
Fred Duffen (Bass)
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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.
Our Former Choral Scholars
2023 - 2024
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​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.
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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.
