Virginia Firnberg – Musical Director
Our Musical Director, Virginia Firnberg, joined the Choir in October 2014. She studied piano and composition at the London College of Music gaining an LLCM in 1985; and an MA in Piano and Composition from Michigan State University (USA) in 1994. Virginia has always had a strong interest in vocal work, having written many pieces for the voice and accompanying singers on the piano to earn her living throughout both degrees. As a choral director Virginia led the Hackney Community Singers 1 & 2 from 2002-5 and was arranger and sometime musical-director for Ekhoz A cappella group. She has also founded (with Jo Clare) and directs a local mixed choir, ‘Walthamstow All Voice Ensemble’ (WAVE).In addition to her musical accomplishments, Virginia is a poet! Her poetry has appeared in many publications including: FLOATING CAPITAL, an anthology of new poets from London (Poets and Poets Press).

Rev. James Gilder – Accompanist
James has done a variety of jobs over the years, from solicitor to teacher, and is now a priest in the Church of England (every career seems to earn him less money…).  He has played the piano and various brass instruments for thirty years, and during that time has accompanied and conducted a variety of choirs, brass bands and other musical groups.  James was elected as a scholar of Magdalene College, Cambridge in 2006, where he also wrote for the Footlights and toured the world with the choir.  He particularly enjoys playing all the right notes, not necessarily in the right order, and letting rip in some of our more jazzy numbers.

 

GUEST ARTISTES

Roland Gallery – Guitarist (doubling banjo)
Whilst studying at the Royal Academy of Music, Roland won the prestigious Julian Bream Prize in a competition that was adjudicated by the world renowned guitarist himself. After his studies Roland quickly established himself as a leading player in guitar ensemble and chamber music leading the English Guitar Quartet and the Segovia Trio. His latest guitar group, which was established in 2001, is the Modern Guitar Trio which exclusively performs the works of the three players.

Apart from giving recitals all over Britain and several countries in Europe, Roland has toured Canada, Australia, Israel and Venezuela. He has appeared on radio and TV and recorded Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He has worked regularly with the Royal Ballet and appeared on stage with them at the Royal Opera House, on tour and on film.

In 1992 Roland was appointed professor of Guitar at Trinity College of Music (now called Trinity-Laban). Well known as an arranger of music that features the guitar, Roland has produced over 300 arrangements and transcriptions. Many composers have written works for him and he also works with contemporary composers, such as Michael Berkeley, in the preparation of new works and as an expert in music notation software.

Alicia Dine – Flutist (piccolo)
In addition to her work in the UK, she has performed in Holland, Germany and Switzerland and has worked with several orchestras, appearing in London’s major concert venues and featuring in broadcasts for BBC Radio 3. She has given performances of the Mozart Flute Concerto in G and Concerto for Flute & Harp, the Cimarosa Concerto for two flutes and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.5. One of the conductors she has worked with is Sir Simon Rattle OM CBE.

Throughout her career, Alicia has worked in duos with both piano and guitar, performing numerous recitals for music clubs and societies. Having a special interest in flute and guitar, she is actively involved in projects working with contemporary composers in order to develop and extend the repertoire.

As founder member of a musical story group with piano and narrator, Alicia composes and arranges classical scores with stories to perform to children, in order to illustrate the emotional content of classical music and to cultivate interest from a young age.

Alicia is also an accomplished pianist and as an amateur enthusiast plays violin, Celtic harp, guitar and mandolin for which she enjoys writing music in folk, Celtic and classical idioms.