[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from 25 years of leading non-auditioned community Choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions across th...

[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from 25 years of leading non-auditioned community Choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions across th...

[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from almost 30 years of leading non-auditioned community Choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions ac...

Simon Lindley's setting of 'Ave Maria' - under the title of 'Litany for Mary' - was produced originally as a setting for upper voices. The music was devised to short call order for a Mothers' Union Deanery Service in what was then Leeds Parish Church on...  moreSimon Lindley's setting of 'Ave Maria' - under the title of 'Litany for Mary' - was produced originally as a setting for upper voices. The music was devised to short call order for a Mothers' Union Deanery Service in what was then Leeds Parish Church on Lady Day - the Feast of the Annunciation - in March 1979. Its accompaniment owes much to the setting of Robert Herrick's 'Litany to the Holy Spirit' by Peter Hurford of some twenty years earlier. 'Ave Maria' has been extensively recorded and broadcast by Choirs of all traditions, especially children's Choirs. Eventually, a version of the piece for four-part Choir emerged during the early weeks of 2003 in response to a request from Gordon Stewart on behalf of the BBC Radio 4 Pilgrim Choir and it is this more recent version that is sung here. This performance was recorded in Leeds Minster on Sunday 28th April 2013 during the recital of 'Music with Minster connections' sung by St Peter's Singers of Leeds, directed by the composer. The organist is David Houl...    less

The Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir is a mixed voice adult Choir (SATB) comprising about 30 singers and working to a high standard of musical excellence. As a part of the historic community of Worcester Cathedral, the Choir has gained a reputation for m...  moreThe Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir is a mixed voice adult Choir (SATB) comprising about 30 singers and working to a high standard of musical excellence. As a part of the historic community of Worcester Cathedral, the Choir has gained a reputation for musical sensitivity and ground breaking performance. The Choir was founded in 1998 by its musical director, Stephen Shellard, in order to draw together a group of high quality singers from the local area to develop a concert repertoire and further enrich the choral tradition of Worcester Cathedral. The establishment of the Choir made history as, for the first time since its foundation nearly 1000 years ago, Worcester Cathedral included women's voices as a part of its musical life.  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Lots of mixed Choirs don’t have enough male Singers, and many established male voice Choirs are not managing to find younger recruits (see my series of ...

"Come to the Woods" by Jake Runestad. Performed by the Georgia State University Singers -- Deanna Joseph, conductor. Commissioned by Conspirare -- Craig Hella Johnson, conductor.

The MCHS Mass Choir is made up of singers from the various Choirs at Memorial Composite High School in Stony Plain Alberta with the bulk of the Choir coming from Memorial's Contemporary and General Choirs. The Choir varies in size from year to years aver...  moreThe MCHS Mass Choir is made up of singers from the various Choirs at Memorial Composite High School in Stony Plain Alberta with the bulk of the Choir coming from Memorial's Contemporary and General Choirs. The Choir varies in size from year to years averaging 80+ singers per year.  

This lovely 'Choral' comes from Vaughan Williams' cantata 'Hodie' (This Day), composed in 1953 or 1954, and which was his last large-scale choral-orchestral work. It was recorded on 5th December 2010 in the Harvey Nichols Espresso Bar in Leeds' magnifi...  moreThis lovely 'Choral' comes from Vaughan Williams' cantata 'Hodie' (This Day), composed in 1953 or 1954, and which was his last large-scale choral-orchestral work. It was recorded on 5th December 2010 in the Harvey Nichols Espresso Bar in Leeds' magnificent Victoria Quarter in the first of St Peter's Singers' now-traditional Sunday evening carol performances there. The Choir is directed by Dr Simon Lindley, its Music Director since the Singers' formation in June 1977. More information about St Peter's Singers, including details of forthcoming concerts, recitals and liturgical performances, may be found on the Choir's website www.stpeters-singers.org.uk and on its Facebook group page 'St Peter's Singers of Leeds'.  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I’m all in favour of confident singers (see How to be a confident singer). The problem is there are two kinds and one of them can be disruptive...