Chiltern Choir

Choir History

The Chiltern Choir was formed in 1980, from a nucleus of singers who had sung as a small madrigal group since 1968, under the umbrella of Chorleywood Community Arts Centre. A complete list of concerts is available (compiled by Michael Currey).

Our Musical Directors

We have attracted a series of talented musical directors:
  • Peter Dodd, then Deputy Director of BBC Radio 3.
  • Stephen Jackson, now Chorus Master of the BBC Symphony Chorus.
  • Simon Williams, who moved on to concentrate on his appointment as Director of Music at St George's, Hanover Square.
  • Mark Hindley, who left us to take advantage of a prestigious job offer in Scotland.
  • Michael Cayton, our current director, joined us in 2003. Michael also works as the Director of Music at St. John's Wood Church, NW8

Landmarks

In 1992, we received the Performing Rights Society's Enterprise Award.

In 1993/94, we celebrated our Silver Jubilee with a performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor, and commissioned and performed Bryan Kelly's Crucifixion.

We have commissioned other works by Bryan Kelly and Anthony Le Fleming.

In 2005, we performed The Kestrel Road, composed by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. This was commissioned by 47 member societies of Making Music, the National Federation of Music Societies.

Collaborations

We enjoy collaborating with other choirs on a regular basis. Collaborations have included joining with other Hertfordshire choirs to sing Mahler's 8th Symphony at the Royal Albert Hall, in aid of the British Council for Prevention of Blindness (October 1999), and joint performances with Harrow Choral Society at St Alban's Abbey: Verdi's Requiem in March 2001, and Bach's B Minor Mass in March 2012.

We also joined forces with Harrow Choral Society in May 2005, to perform Brahms's German Requiem under the baton of Simon Williams. This was prefaced by Stanfords's Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in A, under our own Michael Cayton.

We have enjoyed a number of overseas trips, to perform in collaboration with choirs in Honfleur, Amsterdam, Copenhagen (2012) and, on one especially memorable occasion, at Chartres Cathedral.

In 2001, we were fortunate in having the opportunity to sing Evensong at Norwich Cathedral, and in 2005, we were invited to sing the Eucharist and Evensong at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, as one of the teams of choirs that give the local choristers August off – St Patrick's giving two sung services a day, 365 days a year. It was wonderful to sing a mass as part of a service, instead of as a performance.

Social Events

Social events are a regular feature of the Choir calendar, with activities ranging from summer barbeques to Murder Mystery Evenings, Race Nights, talks on Art History, and Quiz Nights.