About us

Who we are

The London Funeral Singers was founded in 2015 by Penelope Shipley and Briony Rawle.

Penelope has a BA in Music and is a professional singer, composer and Musical Director whose singing credits include Lincoln Cathedral and the famous Boston Stump church, luxury cruise liners and international venues, and theatres around the UK.

Briony has an MA from the University of the Arts London and has been performing professionally for eight years. She has sung at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, St Albans Cathedral and several London theatres, and has worked previously as a London theatrical agent.

Since launching the company, Briony and Penelope have carefully auditioned each singer in person so they know exactly who to call on to match each client's needs.

What we do

We'll work with you, directly or through your funeral director, to establish the perfect musical score for your service. We'll talk through your options, providing advice and suggestions if required, and give you a tailored quote.

Once agreed, we'll source the right singers and arrange the music. This will include choosing the right arrangement of the songs for the choir size, or even writing a bespoke arrangement especially for your service. We'll rehearse the singers and liaise with the church or crematorium to make sure everything goes smoothly.

On the day of the service we'll be at the church before the congregation arrives, ready to sing. You don't need to check in with us, and we'll simply send you an invoice after the service.

We sing for all services whether they be religious or secular, and for all denominations. Whether it's a church service, cremation, or outdoor funeral, a traditional mass, a celebration of life, a tribute, memorial or wake, or even a pet funeral, we'll work with you to create the right musical atmosphere.

Our singers

Our singers' previous work includes such venues as the Barbican, the Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Festival Hall, and performances with the London Symphony Orchestra; West End theatres and opera houses such as English National Opera, Opera Holland Park, Her Majesty's Theatre, the Theatre Royal and the Dominion; and special events such as the Olympics closing ceremony and the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Many trained at the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music, and two are ex-Cambridge choristers.