The Royal Foundation of St Katharine Classical festival
The Chelsea Collective and Datehouse are delighted to request you to join us on November 2nd for a peaceful day filled with the enchanting sounds of Brahms followed by music from Opera to classics from stage and screen by some amazing talented musicians at The Royal Foundation of St Katharine.
The Royal Foundation of St Katharine is the oldest religious charitable trust in Great Britain, with a history spanning nearly 900 years. Do support the Royal Foundation of St. Katherine's charity.
https://www.rfsk.org.uk/donate
Let the music transport you as talented musicians bring some beautiful classics to life in an intimate setting. Whether you’re a seasoned classical music lover or new to the genre, this is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty and emotion of these timeless pieces.
Start your day with an amazing two course lunch (book in advance)
https://www.opentable.com/r/afternoon-tea-at-the-royal-foundation-of-st-katharine-london
Between performances, indulge in an elegant afternoon tea, complete with a selection of delectable treats. It’s the perfect chance to relax, connect, and enjoy the ambiance of this historic venue. This event promises a memorable day of music, mingling, and more. Don’t miss out on this unique experience in the heart of London!
Event Itinerary: El Godfather's Classico Sunday, November 2, 2025 Royal Foundation of St. Katharine, East London
12:00 PM Optional Sunday Lunch (2 courses, £25– book in advance)
https://www.opentable.com/r/afternoon-tea-at-the-royal-foundation-of-st-katharine-london
2:00 PM Brahms Chamber Music www.brahmsclub.org is the link for the 2 pm chamber music concert. 2 November is Brahms Piano Trio no 1. Tickets are free with a donation
4:00 PM Venue Access & Deluxe Afternoon Tea (£25 – savor teas, scones, and treats in a serene setting)
5:00 PM El Godfather's Classico (£20) Venerable Roger Preece Speaks Release of Zahra Palmer's New Song (acoustic guitar) performed with Luis Mosquera + guitar solo. Luis is a blind guitarist.
5:30 PM Concert Begins – Classical Singing with Soprano Daniella Sicari, Baritone Oscar Castellino, and Pianist Gavin Roberts (solos, duets, and piano interludes promoting peace and tranquility)
6:15 PM Prize-Giving Ceremony (Awards for Model on Designer Dance Off winners)
6:30 PM Networking, Cash Bar Wine Tasting in parallel (£20 add-on – guided session with 3 wines by expert Paul, featuring insights from his new book; limited to 12-15 spots, expandable) & Cash Bar (mingle and enjoy drinks)
Capacity limited to 70-80. Proceeds support the Royal Foundation of St. Katherine's charity. Arrive early to explore the historic venue.
Musicians Bios
Oscar Castellino
An internationally acclaimed operatic baritone who has been hailed as "a rising star in the opera world" by BBC News. His distinguished performance credentials include singing for Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant in 2012. With a unique background that bridges engineering and the arts, Oscar brings both technical precision and artistic excellence to every performance.
Oscar's compositional achievements have garnered international recognition, most notably with his creation of "Rise to Mars," the official Mars Anthem selected by the International Mars Society, co-written with space scientist Dr. Robert Zubrin. The anthem has been translated into multiple languages including Welsh, Spanish, and Polish.
On the operatic stage Oscar has played more than 20 roles, having made his solo debut with Welsh National Opera in 2019. He also sings in the ensemble with the Royal Opera House. He trained at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Welsh College.
Oscar's pioneering work in bridging Eastern and Western musical traditions has established him as a unique voice in opera. His innovative approach combines his Indian/Goan heritage with classical European operatic traditions, creating performances that resonate with diverse international audiences. Drawing on his academic background in Physics and Computer Science, Oscar brings intellectual depth to his artistic vision, making him an ideal collaborator for forward-thinking individuals and cultural institutions seeking to support groundbreaking artistic ventures that transcend traditional boundaries and inspire future generations.
Zahra Palmer
Introducing the amazingly talented Zahra Palmer... Music artist, songwriter, model, presenter and actress...
Nicknamed 'THE BODY' after reaching the final 50 out of 180,000 hopefuls on XFACTOR when Simon Cowell quoted that she had the best body he had ever seen... Since then Zahra has gone on to chart in 8 different countries and has also become an international top model...
Zahra is known as role model to young women all around around the world fighting for women to have equal rights and to be able to work as an equal in all countries ..
Zahra has also spent many years dedicated to putting women of colour on the map and has ultimately succeeded...
Zahra's advice would be...
Stand up and fight for what you believe in!!!
Be completely yourself and believe In yourself...
You can achieve anything you want to in life...
https://open.spotify.com/artist/36XDItkICPz92hyyS2i65U
Luis Mosquera
A highly versatile and dynamic artist hailing from Colombia, where he began his journey as a multi-talented musician. Excelling as a singer, songwriter, producer, and performer, his passion for music is evident in his ability to master a wide array of instruments. He is proficient in percussion, playing the bongo, congas, shaker, cowbell, and claves, in addition to showcasing his skills on both the guitar and piano.
Luis’s musical repertoire is a rich tapestry of diverse genres, reflecting his broad artistic scope. He effortlessly moves between the soulful melodies of ballads, the smooth rhythms of Bossa Nova, and the vibrant energy of Latin music. His spiritual depth is expressed through gospel, while his improvisational creativity shines in jazz.
Currently, Luis is refining his craft and expanding his knowledge at the London College of Creative Media (LCCM) University of Music, an institution founded by Matthew Knowles. His dedication to his studies and his diverse musical background position him as an emerging force in the global music scene, poised to make a significant impact with his unique blend of cultural influences and technical prowess.
Gavin Roberts
He enjoys an extraordinarily varied career as a pianist, organist, conductor, director and coach. He has appeared at venues and festivals in the UK and abroad including Barbican Hall, Wigmore Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, Oundle International Festival, Dartington International Festival, The Ludlow Weekend of English Song, The Ryedale Festival, Oxford International Song Festival. He is a professor and staff pianist at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and is the Artistic Director of Song in the City.
Gavin has collaborated with numerous singers, conductors, instrumentalists and ensembles including Lucy Hall, Andrew Watts, Rosamund Shelley, Madeleine Holmes, Eleanor Rolfe Johnson, Donna Lennard, Amanda Pitt, Carolyn Sampson, Robin Tritschler, Ailish Tynan, Jess Dandy, Samantha Crawford, David Greco, Gareth Brynmor John, Angus Meryon, Alan Hacker, Clare Hoskins, Libby Burgess, Graham Johnson, Roger Norrington, Richard Hicox, The BBC Singers, The BBC Symphony Chorus, The Academy of Ancient Music, The National Youth Choir, Schola Cantorum of Oxford, The Joyful Company of Singers, Constanza Chorus, Kingston Choral Society and Fulham and Hammersmith Choral Society, often appearing on radio broadcasts and recordings. Recent highlights include a recital of songs by Lili Boulanger in Antwerp with regular recital partner soprano Lucy Hall, and a performance in the Monodrama Festival, Luxembourg with countertenor Andrew Watts.
Gavin is an experienced and creative concert programmer, including five successful seasons as Artistic Director of The St Marylebone Festival. His work is often characterised by collaborations with other artistic disciplines. Recent work includes a choreographed performance of Schubert’s Wintereise at Rambert, a London Fashion Week show for designer Patrick McDowell at Guildhall School, and a Welsh tour of Novello & Son with Rosamund Shelley. He has been Artistic Director of Song in the City since 2011 for which he has devised more than 150 concerts often on socially-engaged themes, and has pioneered ‘Creative Minds in Song’ commissioning composers to create new songs on the poems of mental-health service users. Passionate about working with composers he has given numerous premieres of new works, as well as composing a small number of works himself. A recent project was a recording of London-themed song commissions ‘Voices of London’ for Song in the City by composers Raymond Yiu, Joseph Atkins, James Lark and Graham Ross.
Gavin was Organist and Director of Music at St Marylebone Parish Church from 2014-2022. He gained a Masters (distinction) in piano accompaniment from Guildhall School, and previously read Music and held the organ scholarship at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and a Master’s degree (distinction) from King’s College London. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and a Trustee of The Finzi Friends.
More details: www.gavinroberts.org & www.songinthecity.org
Daniella Sicari
She is a dynamic Australian-British soprano known for her vibrant stage presence and vocal versatility. A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, she brings a rich blend of training, charisma, and stylistic range to her performances.
Recent performance highlights include Poulenc’s Gloria with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Norina in Don Pasquale (Longhope Opera, Haffner Orchestra & Diva Opera) and Maria in Maria de Rudenz (Gothic Opera). Daniella has also worked for Buxton International Festival, Bergen National Opera, Waterperry Opera Festival, Wild Arts UK and Clonter Opera.
Awards include Joyce & Michael Kennedy Strauss Prize, The Elizabeth Harwood Prize and Opera Box Arts Leadership Award. She was recently a finalist of the Southbank Sinfonia Peter Huslen Orchestra Song Prize and is currently supported by the Eugénie White Award, Tait Memorial Trust.
Daniella has recently been involved with a number of new works and premieres and most recently performed The Hive Opera at the Tung Auditorium. Upcoming engagements include Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Wine tasting
Paul Declerck’ s love for wine began long before he could even hold a glass. Growing up in France’s Loire Valley, surrounded by vineyards and the traditions of a winemaking family, wine was simply part of life. But despite his roots, Paul quickly realised that enjoying wine and understanding wine are two very different things.
For many people, wine can feel complicated, endless grape varieties, mysterious labels, entire regions to remember, and tasting rituals that seem designed to confuse rather than clarify. Even seasoned drinkers can feel uncertain when faced with a restaurant list or a wine shop shelf. Paul has seen this countless times while hosting tastings across Europe for beginners, enthusiasts, and even professionals: people love wine, but often feel intimidated by it.
That’s what inspired Paul to write How to Appreciate Wine and to create the 5 Points Method, a simple way to break down any wine into five clear, repeatable observations. His goal is to make wine something everyone can approach with confidence, whether they are pouring their very first glass or exploring a prized vintage from their collection.
Paul’s teaching style has always been relaxed and practical, focused on making wine accessible rather than academic. He believes learning about wine should feel as enjoyable as drinking it, and that understanding what’s in your glass can make every sip more meaningful.
Through his book, Paul invites readers to take the uncertainty out of wine and replace it with curiosity and confidence. It’s not about memorising facts or impressing anyone, it’s about discovering a deeper appreciation, one glass at a time.