Welcome to our fun international women choir
Come sing with us !
Barcarolle Choir is an international and vibrant un-auditioned female choir with unique lunch time rehearsals. It takes its name from the Barcarolle musical genre from the “Contes d’Hoffman” composed by Offenbach. The Choir was created in 2012 by the Music Director Katrine Reimers and a French amateur singer Helene Coste. Sam Evans took on the baton of Music Director in 2014 and added a pop/jazz repertoire group to the existing classical group within the choir. The two groups, now called Barcarolle Voices and Barcarolle Chamber, specialise in different styles of music, but often combine to sing certain songs together and retain the ethos of being one choir. Barcarolle is one family! This has been the great strength of Barcarolle over the years – the sense of community among the members. Great friendships have been built within the choir. The bond between the members also has a direct positive impact on the singing.
In 2020, Antonella Harrison became the new chair of Barcarolle and with her as chair, the choir has taken on new challenges and has had many wonderful experiences: from singing carols in the residence of the U.S. Ambassador in London, to performing in the stunning Cathedral of Orvieto, Italy in 2022 to participating in singing competitions in Rimini, Italy in 2024 and in Wales in 2025. After 11 wonderful years with Barcarolle, Sam Evans handed over the reins of Music Director to Sam Chaplin in July 2025. Sam Chaplin successfully led Barcarolle choir in the Female Voice Competition at the Eisteddfod International Festival, in Llangollen, North Wales on 12 July. Barcarolle onwards and upwards!
Whether you are an experienced singer looking for new musical challenges, or someone who want to give singing a try for the first time, BARCAROLLE CHOIR is for you: comprising two groups, Barcarolle offers something for all musical tastes and abilities
Barcarolle VOICES
The Voices sing mainly pop/folk/jazz songs, making harmonies without using sheet music, just lyrics, a lot of fun! There is no requirement to read music to join this group. The repertoire covers very different styles of music like Adele, The Beatles, Abba, Aretha Franklin, Sting, Walt Disney Classics …
Barcarolle CHAMBER
Barcarolle CHAMBER
The Chamber sing mainly a classical, folk and contemporary repertoire, using sheet music. A basic music reading and knowledge is advisable to join the group The group repertoire covers a wide range of music from Puccini to Rutter, from Mendelssohn to Whitacre, from Mozart to Fauré and more. .
The two groups have separate rehearsals but perform together at Christmas and Summer concerts every year with a wide range of repertoire, also singing joint pieces of different genres. Barcarolle Choir is also often invited to perform in other events.
Joining the choir does not require any audition but our Music Director can do a voice test, if you wish to test your vocal range. Rehearsals are joyous and friendly. The rehearsal recordings and media supports provide each singer the opportunity to further practice home and prepare for the next live rehearsal.
Barcarolle Choir Team
Music Director: Sam Chaplin
Sam Chaplin is a choral conductor and singing teacher. Over the past two decades, Sam has also performed across the world with his band Jazzbomb as lead singer and jazz trumpeter and has worked as a composer and concert presenter for The Royal Opera House, Spitalfields Festival, the Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment and The Royal Colledge of Music. After reading music at Manchester University, studying composition with John Casken, Sam did a Master in Jazz Performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying harmony and composition with Pete Churchill.
Read more at http://www.samchaplinmusic.com
Pianist/ Accompanist: Oliver Lallemant
Oliver Lallemant is Organist and Director of Music at St Stephen’s Dulwich, and runs several choirs including Sloane Square Choral Society, Chelsea Chamber Choir and the Chelsea Arts Club Singers. Also a jazz pianist, Olly performs as a soloist or with his trio at weddings, soirées, cocktail receptions and Christmas parties and plays frequently around the world.
Read more at: https://www.chelseachamberchoir.com/team-4
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