“I had a really lovely time and found everybody friendly, helpful and encouraging”
Who we are
Crispin Lewis (co-founder and artistic director).
After studying early music as a post-graduate at the Royal College of Music, Crispin went on to direct his own vocal ensembles at major venues including Wigmore Hall, the Royal Opera House Linbury Theatre, South Bank Centre, Kings Place, St John’s Smith Square, and in many live broadcasts on BBC Radio Three. He has performed repertoire encompassing all the major choral works, ranging from the medieval to newly commissioned works. Crispin is also a professional singer, appearing as soloist in opera and oratorio. He conducts several choirs in the UK, where he lives in London. His new solo album, of premiere recordings of the songs of Herbert Murrill, will be released by First Hand Records early in 2025.
Antonella Petrone, co-founder of Choritalia
Antonella is an Italian events manager who, before returning to live in Tuscany, lived for 6 years in England. She combines her experience of Italian culture with knowledge of the British lifestyle to create the perfect holiday experience for guests. Through her experience of organising special events, especially weddings and honeymoon holidays with her own events company ‘Italy Destination Weddings’, she takes huge satisfaction from creating the perfect holiday for all lovers of Italy and of music.
Rebecca Lodge Birkebaeck (choral director)
Rebecca is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied singing and piano. During her time at the RAM, she received many prizes, including the Lloyds Bank Scholarship for postgraduate study, which enabled her to complete her studies on the Opera Course.
Her career over the last 25 years as soloist, former member of the BBC Singers (the United Kingdom’s only full- time, professional chamber choir), former staff member of the Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, choral conductor, educator and workshop leader has given her a wealth of experience. Equally at home performing on stage, in the recording studio or broadcasting on television and radio she brings energy, fun and commitment to all her projects.
Rebecca has a great passion for music education, encouraging and inspiring people of all ages and abilities to improve their singing through choral workshops, leading sessions for the BBC Performing Groups, the Royal Opera House, the Kings’ Singers, and Berkshire Maestros amongst many others. As conductor of several choirs, including the Intermediate Choir of the Finchley Children’s Music Group, Rebecca is delighted to be on the staff of Choritalia.
Rhidian Jones (piano and organ)
Rhidian Jones hails from Aberdare in South Wales where he attended school and learned the piano and organ. He read Music at the University of Oxford and became a secondary school teacher. He then became a local government officer, acquiring legal qualifications on the way. He was an associate tutor in Music for the Open University for twenty years. For several years he was the accompanist to the London-based Canonbury Chamber Choir, for whom he played the piano and organ, and now plays regularly for its successor, Cantallini. His musical activities recently include a number of recitals on the organ and as a piano accompanist. He lives in Maidenhead in Berkshire and is the Assistant Organist at All Saints’ Church in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
