‘I was raised Greek Orthodox, and church has always been such an important part of my life. My spiritual journey and profession have taken me through many denominations … ultimately in all of them you see souls yearning to connect.’

In 2010 the record-industry magazine Gramophone asked an international jury to vote for the best choirs in the world. The top 20 featured no fewer than eight British chamber choirs – a disproportion so striking (and not a little embarrassing) that they had to ask American choral giant Eric Whitacre to explain it.

More than a decade later, there are signs of change. France is coming into its own with a new generation of early music groups; China’s professional choral scene is going from strength to strength; America’s university choirs are thriving. But London remains the centre for chamber choirs: home to The Sixteen, The Tallis Scholars, The Monteverdi Choir, I Fagiolini, ORA, The BBC Singers and Tenebrae, among many, many others.

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