About
City of Derry Choir International Festival. Credit © Lorcan Doherty
The choir
The Epiphoni Consort was founded in 2014 by Tim Reader to bridge the gap between amateur and professional choral singing in London. Its singers are highly trained musicians who have chosen careers beyond music while continuing to perform at the highest level.
Since its formation, Epiphoni has earned recognition both in the UK and internationally. The choir most recently won the Grand Prix in Tallinn and prior to that the “Outstanding Performance of a Piece written before 1750” – William Byrd’s Haec Dies – at the City of Derry International Choir Festival.
The group has appeared twice on BBC TV in The Joy of Rachmaninov and Terry Pratchett: Back in Black, performing Tallis’s 40-part motet Spem in alium. The choir has also released three acclaimed recordings: Sudden Light (the music of David Bednall), When Love Speaks (the music of Owain Park) and Precious Things (the music of Bernard Hughes).
Alongside its award-winning chamber work, Epiphoni regularly performs major choral repertoire. Recent highlights include Fauré’s Requiem entirely from memory as part of the choir’s tenth-anniversary celebrations, as well as performances of Duruflé’s Requiem , Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast and Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius. Alongside its performances, the choir is increasingly committed to developing the next generation of choral leaders through professional conducting workshops, educational initiatives and outreach projects.
I rate my audience experiences based on whether it makes me want to be up there making music with the performers. I give you an emphatic yes
Johannes Roose, Conductor, Melbourne Sinfonia
Founder and guest conductor
Founder of the choir, Tim Reader studied music at the University of Exeter in 2000, and more recently at the University of York for the Master’s programme in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing with Robert Hollingworth.
He conducted The Epiphoni Consort since its founding in 2014 to 2024 in performances across London, for two BBC TV programmes, on the choir’s three CDs and at several international competitions most recently winning the Grand Prix in Tallinn. He is now one of several guest conductors of the choir.
He is a member of the professional church choir, and occasional conductor, at St John’s Wood Church neighbouring Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
In addition to musical activities Tim is also a qualified Life Coach, and website consultant for charities and arts organisations.
Choir Manager
Elizabeth Chapman took the newly-created role of Choir Manager in October 2025 and is responsible for the administrative running of the choir.
Liz’s other roles as part of a freelance portfolio include Operations Manager for the professional choir Sonoro (directed by Neil Ferris and with whom our regular collaborator Joanna Tomlinson sings) and Farnham Youth Choir who were double gold medalists at 2024 World Choir Games. She also works for the Cambridge Handel Opera Company, Haslemere Parish Church, and was formerly Administrator of Choral Music for the chapel choir of Royal Holloway.
Committee
Barbara Gunter – Chair
A serial committee joiner, Barbara has sung with the choir for 6 years and currently oversees the Friends scheme. Barbara has worked for DHL for 20 years in a variety of roles, including warehouse operations management, marketing, digital marketing, CRM & platform management, innovation, events management & change management, and has moved to Germany more than once along the way. She’s a trained workshop facilitator & has compered a number of large events. When not working or singing, she is generally found drinking pretentious coffee, running, or hiking, and has been known to dabble in stand up comedy.
Jess Reader – Secretary
Jess has sung with the choir since 2016 and managed the choir until 2019. She works for the world-renowned The Sixteen, managing their young artists’ programme, Genesis Sixteen and has previously worked for Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, The Hallé Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. As a singer, Jess is a member of the professional choir of St Mary’s Bourne Street. Jess also works as a Support Worker for Streetwise Opera, a music organisation working with people affected by homelessness, and with whom Epiphoni collaborated in 2022 and 2023.
Sarah May – Treasurer
Sarah has sung with Epiphoni since 2018 and also sings in the choir at St Matthew’s Westminster. She works as a forensic accountant for Grant Thornton and has taken on the role of treasurer for Epiphoni.
Charlotte Webb – social media
Charlotte has sung with Epiphoni since 2021, and supports the choir with all things social media. She works as an NHS Speech Therapist with Adults who have communication or swallowing impairments following a Brain Injury. When not working or singing, she can mostly be found reading (or scrolling TikTok).
Clare Sutherland – Membership
Clare has sung with Epiphoni since 2022, and supports the choir in communicating with members old, new and somewhere in between! She works for the People team at Wellcome, a scientific research funding organisation, and when she’s not working or singing enjoys reading, long walks in the countryside and knitting scarves for friends and family.
Greg Windle – Social
Greg has sung tenor with Epiphoni since 2018 and is glad to join the Epiphoni committee as social coordinator. He works as a researcher in social housing and otherwise enjoys cooking and eating.
Richard Holdsworth – Concerts manager
A choir which is amateur in the original sense of the word but whose performances are truly professional.
Cathedral Music, ‘When Love Speaks’ review