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We offer daily services and a cultural programme of talks, events and concerts. We seek to be a welcoming space for people to reflect, create and debate
Saturday 7 February 11am
Experience the timeless romance of 19th-century composers Clara and Robert Schumann, as their love story comes to life through their music in a relaxed Saturday morning concert suitable for all ages.
Wednesday 4 – 7 February 7.30pm
Baroque and roll meets gospel and soul in a funny, heart breaking and ultimately joyous new musical about two musical icons.
St James’s hosts inclusive services and a cultural programme. We seek to be a welcoming space for people to reflect, create and debate.
St James’s is a place to explore, reflect, pray, and support all who are in need. We are a Church of England parish in the Anglican Communion.
We host a year-round creative programme encompassing music, visual art and spoken word.
We offer hospitality to people going through homelessness and speak out on issues of injustice, especially concerning refugees, asylum, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ issues.
St James’s strives to advocate for earth justice and to develop deeper connections with nature.
We aim to be a place where you can belong. We have a unique history, and the beauty of our building is widely known. Our community commits to faith in action: social and environmental justice; creativity. and the arts
We strive to be a Eucharist-centred, diverse and inclusive Christian community promoting life in abundance, wellbeing and dignity for all.
St James’s Piccadilly has been at the heart of its community since 1684. We invite you to play your part in securing this historic place for generations to come.
It costs £5,000 each day to keep the doors of St James’s open to all who already need us.
A reimagined St James’s realised. A redesigned garden, courtyard and new building capacity—all fully accessible— will provide beautiful spaces for all as well as improving our environmental performance.
Whether shooting a blockbuster TV series or creating a unique corporate event, every hire at St James’s helps our works within the community.
St James's Church 197 Piccadilly London W1J 9LL
Directions on Google Maps
Friday 5 September 1.10pm
Gonçalo Pires, born in Braga, Portugal, began his cello studies at the age of six under the tutelage of Jorge Ribeiro at the Calouste Gulbenkian Music Conservatory in Braga. Raffaele Pagano is an Italian violinist and composer. He has been awarded first prize in more than 20 competitions in Italy.
Online streaming
This concert will be streamed live on our YouTube channel at 1:10pm.
Support our Creative Programme
Whether £5 or any amount you’re able to give. Donations can be made in cash in the basket on your way out, or by tap donation at the machines at our exits. Your generosity helps support our cultural events and charitable services. Thank you.
Free admission | Donations welcome
Programme
A. Vivaldi: Four Seasons (arr. for violin and cello R. Pagano)
Z. Kodaly: Duo Violin and Cello 1st Mov
R. Pagano: Sweet Insights
R. Pagano: Onore e Gloria
R. Pagano: Intuizioni
Handel/Halvorsen: Passacaglia
St James’s is grateful for the generous support of Rolex for this music programme.
Artist bio
Gonçalo Pires (b. 2002, Braga, Portugal) is an accomplished cellist whose musical career spans solo, chamber, and orchestral performances across Europe. He began his cello studies at the age of six under Jorge Ribeiro at the Calouste Gulbenkian Music Conservatory in Braga. In 2020, he commenced his undergraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London, under the tutelage of Josephine Knight, and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree with Hannah Roberts.
Gonçalo has performed at venues such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, St James Piccadilly Church, St James Sussex Gardens, collaborating with renowned ensembles including the Doric String Quartet, London Contemporary Soloists, London Film Music Orchestra (as a soloist), Academy Symphony Orchestra, Academy Chamber Orchestra and Harrow Symphony Orchestra (as a soloist). His international appearances also include performances in Lisbon, Braga, Porto, and Helsinki.
A prizewinner of numerous international competitions, Gonçalo’s accolades include First Prizes in the Martin/Hooton Concerto Prize 2024 (Royal Academy of Music), the Paços Brandão International Competition (Portugal), the Fundão International Competition (Portugal), the International Capela Competition (Portugal), the Soncello International Competition (Spain), the North International Music Competition (Sweden), and the International London Classic Music Competition (UK). His academic excellence has been further recognized with the Clarence Myerscough Award. He holds the Christopher Hogwood Award Audition Scholarship from the Royal Academy of Music.
In addition to his performing career, Gonçalo has participated in masterclasses with esteemed cellists such as Marc Coppey, Gary Hoffman, and Ludwig Quandt. His work has also been featured on Portuguese National Television, and he has performed at significant events including the Day of Portugal celebrations at the Portuguese Embassy in London.
Gonçalo is honored to be supported by Talent Unlimited, where he looks forward to furthering his artistic career and sharing his passion for music with wider audiences.
Raffaele Pagano is an Italian violinist and composer. After being awarded as first prize in more than 20 competitions in Italy and playing in the theatre San Carlo Di Napoli and as concertmaster in several orchestras of his native city Naples, he moved to London to study with the legendary professor of Royal Academy of Music Hu Kun (the longest pupil of Lord Yehudi Menuhin)
In London he became the leader of London Arte Chamber Orchestra and from 3 years he started to compose music receiving his first prize in the 2nd edition of the international composition competition “Premio Metastasio” of Scalea (Italy)
His music is predominantly bound to the emotions and real feelings that Raffaele put on his violin first with improvisations and then with compositions.
He plays regularly with Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra and he is the concertmaster of Oxford Festival Orchestra. He collaborates with the agency Giardino Strings playing in all sort of events also with different styles of music like Pop, Bollywood, Irish, Persian, etc.. He teaches in Blackheath Conservatoire for the last 5 years.
Raffaele plays on a priceless violin made for him from the father of his first violin teacher 24 years ago and a precious bow from Cremona which he won in the international violin competition “Luigi Denza” 13 years ago.
