President, Dame Fiona Woolf, DBE, DL

The President, Dame Fiona Woolf has been part of the Chelsea Opera Group since 1974 when she joined the chorus to sing Hindemith’s rather challenging Mathis der Maler. A keen opera-goer (since the age of 5), she sang in most of COG’s concert performances (except when she was working abroad as an energy lawyer or travelling as President of the Law Society). She also sang in opera choruses on stage with University College Opera and the Pro Musica Chorus in France. She had an operational role with COG as its Chairman until 2013 when she stood down to serve as the Lord Mayor of London. During her civic career in the City of London, she organised two successful fundraising concerts which were given by COG in the Guildhall under the titles of A Bear of Two Cities and Powerful Women. She also chairs the Wexford Festival Opera UK Foundation.