We are delighted to announce the appointment of Neavan Lobban as new Director of Music at Sheen Gate Choir. Neavan will kick off the new term for us on September 16th 2025 at Christchurch East Sheen. Come and join us – all singers welcome!
Neavan Lobban is a versatile and expressive Scottish conductor based in London. Known for his collaborative approach and commitment to inclusive music-making, Neavan is the Musical Director of the Birmingham Gay Symphony Orchestra – the Midlands’ only LGBTQ+ orchestra, named by Classic FM in 2025 as one of the world’s top LGBTQ+ ensembles.
Neavan studied conducting at the University of Birmingham under Simon Halsey CBE. During his time there, he served as assistant conductor to renowned composer Bob Chilcott and supported the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) in rehearsals for Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana at the BBC Proms in Summer 2023.
Passionate about working across a wide range of styles and ensembles, Neavan has also conducted the CBSO Chorus, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and Leicester University Chamber Choir, among others. He is particularly interested in fostering connection and creativity by curating meaningful and accessible performances.
About the choir
Sheen Gate Choir is a non-selective community choir based in East Sheen, South West London, UK. Formed in 2009, we rehearse every week in the Sheen area, and try to perform a major work every year, as well as other smaller concerts.
We find that singing is a cathartic experience. It is uplifting, challenging and rewarding, and is a social part of our members’ lives. You do not need to be able to read music or have previous experience in a choir to join us. All you need to do is commit to Tuesday nights during term time (and don’t worry if you cannot commit to every one, you can still be a part of the choir and a part of performances).
We rehearse from 7.45pm to 9.30pm and then head to one of our local pubs to catch up.
In recent years, major concerts have included Haydn’s Creation, Faure’s Requiem, Schubert’s Mass in G, Saint Saens’ Requiem, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Mozart’s Requiem as well as more contemporary works by the likes of Britten, Vaughan Williams, Whitacre, Rutter and Goodall. We have travelled to perform with other choirs in Salzburg and Vienna, and at the Royal Albert Hall.
New members are always welcome. If you would like to join us, please complete the following form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. No audition is required – you can just turn up and have a go!