About Cappella Nova
From gathering once a month to sing madrigals for pleasure under the leadership of our founding musical director Tony Shield, Cappella Nova evolved into a chamber choir, performing regularly in venues throughout Bath, Somerset and North Wiltshire as well as singing as visiting choir in cathedrals in south-west England and beyond.
Many of us have been singing since childhood and some of us have been singing together since the 1990s. Cappella Nova was launched in 2001, a milestone in our shared history, when the group first performed under its current name. The name was chosen to show our interest in a Cappella (unaccompanied) singing and the word Nova marked our new identity with a reflective reference to the river Avon.
Tony Shield retired as conductor and musical director in 2025, and we were delighted to appoint Marysia Górska-Saj to continue the work of the choir.
Marysia Górska-Saj
Marysia was appointed as our Musical Director in September 2025. She is a musician, choral director, and Alexander Technique teacher. Marysia graduated from Ignacy Paderewski Music College in Poznań, Poland, and from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, where she specialised in Music Education and Choral Conducting. She trained in the Alexander Technique at the Bristol Alexander School and qualified as a teacher in 2017.
She has conducted a wide variety of ensembles, including choral societies, male voice choirs, children’s choirs, church choirs, and community choirs.
As a lover of words, Marysia is passionate about the power of text in choral music - how meaning and storytelling can elevate the musical experience to another level. She integrates principles of the Alexander Technique into her conducting, using body awareness to support ease and freedom in singing.
In her spare time, Marysia enjoys writing musicals for children.
What we do
Church music
Cappella Nova is experienced at singing for church services, from Choral Evensong and Carol services in local parish churches to weekends as visiting choir at major cathedrals.
Music for weddings
Cappella Nova can provide choral music for your wedding. We have experience of church and civil ceremonies, and can advise on the choice of music for your celebrations.
Charity concerts
Our concerts are often in support of a local or national charity - since 2011 we have raised over £30,000 for good causes.
Previous concerts
Virtual choir
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