People

Conductor - Richard Pearce

This year Richard celebrates 14 years as musical director of the Waverley Singers.  During this time, he has led the choir in over 40 performances.  Particular highlights have been concerts in Guildford Cathedral of Monteverdi Vespers, Verdi Requiem, Beethoven Mass in C, Brahms Schicksalslied, Mozart Requiem and Bach Magnificat in D.  Other favourites for him have been Mendelssohn Elijah, Bach St. John Passion, Handel Messiah and Israel in Egypt.  Alongside these major works he has introduced new and varied repertoire to the choir, including commissions by composer Will Todd, and many newly-written compositions.

Richard was organ scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge.  After graduating with first class honours in music, he studied piano accompaniment for two years at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he developed his work with solo singers.  He is now a professor at the GSMD, coaching singers and instrumentalists for careers in opera and the concert platform, and is a trustee of the Josephine Baker Trust, which supports young soloists at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music in London.

Richard is busy as a conductor, pianist and organist with professional choirs, and is also Musical Director of the Romsey Choral Society.  He records and broadcasts regularly with the BBC Singers, and particularly enjoys the challenge of preparing an extremely wide variety of repertoire, including much contemporary and new music.  He recently conducted works by James MacMillan, Judith Bingham, Britten and Roxanna Panufnik for broadcast on BBC Radio 3.  As organist and pianist he has performed with many of the UK’s best-known choral conductors, including David Hill, Stephen Cleobury, Paul Spicer, Bob Chilcott and Sofi Jeannin.

Richard has a long-standing association with the Royal Choral Society, and performs with them several times a year at the Royal Albert Hall in London.  In addition he makes twice-yearly trips to Sweden to work with groups in the Stockholm and Malmö areas.  He is regular organist with the Philharmonia and BBC Symphony Orchestras in London; he also performs regularly in Promenade concerts and recordings, including at the Last Night of the Proms to a worldwide television audience.

Richard frequently conducts and plays for services at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster and at the Houses of Parliament.

Pianist - Jakob Rothoff

Jakob was born in Sweden and studied piano, piano teaching and conducting at The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm before coming to London for further studies at the Royal College of Music.

At the College Jakob earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Accompaniment, winning all the prizes for lieder accompaniment.

After graduating Jakob has performed all over the UK, with singers, instrumentalists and choirs.

You can see hin in action here!