Alex Cooper (soprano) & Kaishun Ypsilantis (piano)

Experience inspiring performances by top emerging artists in our historic venue, renowned for its superb acoustics. Our recitals are programmed in collaboration with leading music colleges and charities, providing a platform for the stars of tomorrow. Discover exceptional talent in a unique settting.

Free admission | Donations welcome

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.

Programme

Love at first sight

Seit ich ihn gesehen – Schumann

Vous m’avez regardé toute votre âme – Lili Boulanger

Idolisation

Er der Herrlichste von allen – Schumann

Du meines Herzens Krönelein – Strauss

Unrequited love

If no one ever marries me – Lehmann

Love‘s Philosophy – Quilter

Secret love

The Trellis – Ireland

Love for beauty

Kommt ein schlanker bursch gegangen – Weber

Liebst du um Schönheit – Mahler

Everyday love

Auch kleine dinge – Wolf

Warum willst du and’re fragen – Clara Schumann

Desire

Youkali – Weill

Tornami a vagheggiar – Handel

Reminiscing on love

Les chemins de l’amour – Poulenc

Artist Bio

Alexandra Cooper is the Stephen Catto Memorial Scholar at the Royal College of Music where she studies with Tim Evans-Jones. She completed her Bachelor of Music at RCM as the Douglas and Hilda Simmonds Scholar. Alongside her studies she is a choral scholar at St John’s Hyde Park under the musical direction of Nicholas Miller.
Recent engagements include Young Vixen in The Cunning Li+le Vixen with the RCM Opera Studio, Ida in Die Fledermaus with Westminster Opera Company at the Chateau de Panloy, Charente Maritime and Ensemble in Jonathan Dove’s Flight and Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro with the RCM Opera Studio. RCM Opera scenes include Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Serpina in La Serva padrona and Rosmene in Imeneo.
She was a finalist in the 2023 Charles Wood song competition and previously a scholar at the Junior Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where she was awarded the Peter Vernon Vocal Prize. Alexandra recently made her screen debut as Choral girl No.1 in Alan Bennett’s upcoming film The Choral directed by Nicholas Hytner.

Kaishun Ypsilan,s is a collaborative pianist who frequently works with singers and instrumentalists. She recently graduated with distintion in Collaborative Piano (Master of Performance) from the Royal College of Music, where she studied with Simon Lepper, Roger Vignoles, Julian Jacobson and Howard Williams.
Praised by her teachers for her intuitive musicianship, professional artistry and reliability, Kaishun has worked on opera productions including scenes from Imeneo and Fidelio at the BriJen Theatre, and she frequently supports young musicians in exams and competitions. In addition,she is the recipient of the Vocal Accompaniment Award of the Basel International Piano Accompanists Competition 2025 (Japan). She is a registered external accompanist at the RCM and a member of the College’s Professional Engagement Service.
Regularly engaged for concerts and events at distinguished venues, her recent performances include appearances at St James’s Church Sussex Gardens, Westminster Libraries and Archives, the Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall, the Austrian Cultural Forum, Lauderdale House and St James’s Church Piccadilly.

Presented in association with the Royal College of Music

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher St James's Church, Piccadilly