About our musicians
We put the right singers in the right building, prepared and rehearsed, for the occasion you are planning.
Our story
Luca Wetherall founded The London Choral Service after years of directing music at ceremonies and seeing the same problem: families wanted live music but had no reliable way to find trained singers at short notice. He built a small team of conservatoire-trained musicians who could be trusted to arrive prepared, know the building, and lead the music without needing to be managed.
Luca studied music as an undergraduate at the University of Oxford, where he was a choral scholar at Merton College, and took a master’s at Royal Holloway. He is now a Clarendon Scholar and Tutor in Music at Oxford, where he teaches academic music, conducting, and singing across the university. Read more about Luca.
He auditions every singer and instrumentalist on the team himself. That selectiveness is the foundation of the service. When you book with us, you are booking musicians Luca has heard and chosen.
“Luca understood straight away what we needed. He suggested pieces we’d never have found on our own, and the singers were faultless.”
A hymn sung with conviction carries a congregation through their grief or joy. A solo voice can hold a room so still you can hear a hymn book close at the back. A full choir in a large church produces a sound you feel in your chest.
We match you with the right musicians, plan the repertoire with you, and handle rehearsals, sheet music, and venue liaison. On the day, the music is one less thing for you to think about.
Our musicians
We keep the team small on purpose. Luca selects for two things: a voice that can carry a building, and the awareness to hold back when the occasion calls for it. Technique alone is not enough when a family is grieving or a couple is exchanging vows.
Our musicians are prize-winning graduates of the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music, the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Their credits include the coronation of King Charles III, the Olympics closing ceremony, the BBC Proms, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the English National Opera, the Royal Albert Hall, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Royal Opera House.
What matters most: they arrive understanding that the ceremony belongs to the people in the room, not to the performers. Listen to recordings of our musicians.
“Our guests kept saying the music was the highlight. The choir sang during the signing of the register and you could hear a pin drop. Perfect.”
We hold diary space for short-notice work, because most families are not booking weeks ahead. We offer vocal ensembles from a single soloist to a twelve-voice chorus, plus keyboard and string players. See our full range of services, or browse our music guides for help choosing repertoire.
Where we perform
Based in London, available nationwide. We have performed at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, Brompton Oratory, Temple Church, the Guards’ Chapel, St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Chelsea Old Church. We perform just as often in parish churches and crematoriums across the UK, from London to Oxford, Birmingham, and Manchester. See all areas.
If you already have a venue, we recommend the ideal ensemble size and instrumentation for the space. If you are still deciding, we are happy to advise. Luca knows the acoustics of hundreds of churches and ceremony venues across London and the South East. Our pricing page sets out clearly what each ensemble option costs.
For ceremonies outside the UK, our performing ensemble Alma Consort takes a small number of private and international engagements each year.
How we work
It starts with a conversation. Tell us about the occasion, the venue, and the mood you have in mind. If you have music in mind, we will talk about it. If you are unsure, we will guide you — a short conversation usually settles the repertoire.
We then send a recommendation — the ensemble, the repertoire, the programme order — with a written quote. Once you confirm, we handle rehearsals, sheet music, and coordination with your venue or funeral director. You will not need to chase us or manage logistics.
On the day, our musicians arrive early, set up quietly, and perform the programme you agreed.
“I rang up not really knowing what I wanted and she couldn’t have been kinder. The quartet were outstanding. Several people have asked me for the details since.”
Text us on WhatsApp for the fastest reply, or call us on 07356 042468. We respond within a few hours.