FCMG London Children’s Choir -
Grace Rossiter

Musical Director

“…with Finchley Children’s Music Group, which is positively flourishing under Grace Rossiter’s exceptionally efficient and well-articulated musical direction…”

Roderick Dunnett on Michael Finnissy’s Mankind

Born in 1977, Grace Rossiter began her musical training as a member of the Finchley Children’s Music Group before going on to read Music at Bristol University, during which time she conducted both the University Chamber Choir and Orchestra.  On graduating, she worked with choirs and operatic societies in the south west as a conductor and repetiteur, returning to London in 2001 when she was appointed Musical Director of the Finchley Children’s Music Group.  She made her BBC Proms debut with the choir in 2004, conducting the children’s chorus in Britten’s War Requiem. In the same year she released a disc with FCMG, Bethlehem Down (Naxos), to critical acclaim.  One of her arrangements from this disc has been recently recorded by the BBC Singers for Radio 3.  Grace has conducted FCMG performances at the RFH, RAH, Barbican, St John’s Smith Square and Kings Place.

FCMG enjoys a busy and varied concert diary, and with the choir, Grace has worked with conductors including Kurt Masur, James Levine, Richard Hickox and Sir Colin Davis.  The choir has also performed at many large scale events, including singing with Madonna at Wembley for Live Earth. Grace has recently conducted the premieres of two song cycles for choir and small ensemble by James Weeks and John Pickard, and the London premiere of Michael Finnissy’s opera Mankind.  She will conduct the premiere of Terry Mann’s Common Dance at the Borough Hall, Greenwich in October. In spring 2010 Grace will conduct the premiere of The Jailer’s Tale, a children’s opera composed by Malcolm Singer, at The Menuhin Hall and later at The Pentland Theatre, Arts Depot.

Grace has been Musical Director of Finchley Choral Society since autumn 2007, and future engagements with the choir include performances of Beethoven’s Mass in C and Duruflé Requiem.  She is also Musical Director of the Symphonic Wind Orchestra of North London (SWON) with whom she has recently conducted performances in London, Antwerp and Oostende. Grace has also worked with Enfield Chamber Orchestra, Camden Singers, Bright Angel Theatre Company, Bristol Opera, and New Youth Opera. She has recorded for Naxos, film, radio and television, and has performed throughout the UK, Europe and Australia. .