The Team

LaUrence Williams | musical director - since 2021

Laurence began his musical career as a Chorister age 8 at Westminster Abbey where he sang every day. It was through this training that he developed a love for choral music and for singing.

He is a freelance musician in London who has worked extensively with non-professional and children’s/youth music. He has been Director of Fulham Prep School Chamber Choir and Director of Choral Music at The Peterborough School. He is passionate about introducing young voices to the joy and benefits of singing in a choir.

He is also a Bass-baritone soloist, touring internationally, performing on live TV and radio in various venues such as New Zealand, Australia and Europe. He attended Cambridge University and undertook a performing masters at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating with distinction. He is an Associate of the Royal College of Organists, having been Organ Scholar at the Royal Chapel of St. George’s, Windsor Castle.

Eleanor Garside | Temporary Music Director

Laurence Williams has taken a sabbatical in Autumn 2024 to enjoy some travelling!

Eleanor began singing at age 13, because she needed to learn a second instrument alongside playing the piano to attend the Junior School of the Royal Northern College of Music. As a result, singing became her primary focus since it turned out that singing with other people was an incredibly fun thing to do.

Eleanor attended the University of Manchester, and obtained her Masters degree in Vocal Studies from the Royal Northern College of Music. She has been a freelance musician for twelve years, where alongside her professional performances as a soprano she has worked with several youth outreach projects and children’s choirs.

 As a teacher with Pimlico Opera on their ‘Primary Robins’ singing scheme, she teaches in primary schools across Essex, giving fun singing lessons to over 500 children every week. She has worked with English National Opera’s Youth Company as a support performer and voice mentor, and with the London International Choral Festival, working with choirs from high schools across the United States. She is also the Children’s Choir Director for St Peter’s Church, Victoria.

Yarah abdelhamed | Music assistant

Yarah discovered her love for singing aged 6. Over the years she had been a part of numerous singing programmes and choirs, including Edmonton Young Singers & Enfield Glee Club. From there, she discovered Children’s Voices of Enfield, earned a scholarship and was a chorister at CVE for over 10 years.

She enjoyed singing with CVE so much that she went on to study singing, and recently graduated from studying a BA in Musical Theatre at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Yarah performs in a range of styles including mainstream pop, classical and specialises in Musical Theatre Singing. In 2023, Yarah has performed in ensemble roles in the musicals, Doonesbury and Celebration. Her accolades include the National Association of Choirs cup and the Jack Petchey Award. In 2020 she achieved three distinctions in an Extended Diploma in Music Performance and Production at City of Westminster College. Yarah has been our Music Assistant since January 2021 where she has been helping the choristers and directing the choir for some pieces.