About Us
Soul of the City Gospel Choir is and uplifting, joyful place for connection, laughter, music and friendship. We love to sing with our choir family, led by Choir Director Emma Watson and supported by Musical Director, Alfie Pugh.
Soul of the City has grown over the passed few years, building audiences in the Southwest of England, finalists in the BBC Gospel Choir of the Year 2024, creating new ways to reach bigger audiences, spreading the joy we feel to others.
Our goal as a choir is to create a warm and welcoming space for the power of gospel music to feed our souls. Every member becomes part of our choir family and as a choir we meet weekly, socially, building relationships, with our common ground, our love for singing together.
Emma Watson
Choir Director
Emma has been working within the music industry for over 20 years as a vocalist and songwriter, performer, session singer and teacher. Her work has taken her around the UK and, session singer and as a top line writer, working with producers globally.
Brought up in Devon, England, Emma has developed her music skills, achieving a distinction in a Masters in Music Performance (M.Mus). Emma always knew she would work within the performing arts, predominantly music, from an early age. When asked by her secondary school career’s adviser ‘what do you want to do when you leave school?’ she answered ‘I know I want to work in the performing arts sector, mostly music, definitely singing…then maybe later down the line, I’ll do some teaching too’ to which the advisor said ‘you should probably have a back up plan’…She never had a back up plan.
Emma began working with choirs in 2010 leading an adult and a children’s choir at the Exeter Phoenix and it soon became the highlight of her week, then in 2022, Emma was given the opportunity to take over Soul of the City Gospel Choir and make it her own, which she jumped at!
Emma’s dedication to the choir and her purpose to create happiness through singing is truly evident in everything she does.
Alfie Pugh
Musical Director
Alfie Pugh (b.1989) graduated from Bath Spa University in 2012 with a First Class degree in Music. He then returned to his hometown of Exeter, where he has worked as a freelance musician ever since. His roles include piano teacher, composer and arranger, musical director and choir leader, and orchestral/jazz performer. He was previously the choirmaster for the Hospiscare Choir since its inception in 2015 and has led them in performances in Exeter Cathedral and the Rugby World Cup.
Alfie’s love for all things music greatly supports the choirs gospel musicians and arranges pieces written by Emma and Alfie for the choir. Alfie is a joy to work with and a real asset to Soul of the City.
