Hertfordshire Chorus
Encyclopedia
Hertfordshire Chorus, formed in 1970, is one of the leading large choir
s in England
with over 130 members from across the county of Hertfordshire
, London
and the surrounding areas, performing across the country and regularly touring.
Initially, Hertfordshire Chorus was known as the Hatfield Philharmonic Chorus which, with the Hatfield Philharmonic Orchestra, was conducted by Frank Shipway who was instrumental in founding the Hatfield Philharmonic Society, of which it was a part.
Michael Kibblewhite was appointed chorus master in 1973 and, in 1977, Shipway, muscical director of the orchestra, moved on. The Society appointed Howard Burrell to conduct the orchestra alongside Kibblewhite's choir. The two groups later split, with the orchestra remaining as the Hatfield Philharmonic Society and the chorus becoming independent.
Kibblewhite became the Musical Director and conductor of the new chorus, bringing in professional orchestras for concerts, a trend continued today. David Temple
replaced Kibblewhite as Musical Director in September 2000 and Susan Graham-Smith has been their accompanist since 1991.
The choir has performed in venues across the United Kingdom
and Europe
, including the Royal Albert Hall
, the Royal Festival Hall
and The Sage Gateshead. Hertfordshire Chorus is renowned for its innovative programming, frequently involving commissions such as "Mass in Blue" and "Ode to a Nightingale" by Will Todd
, "Ice" by Orlando Gough
and "Solaris" by Steve Block.
Hertfordshire Chorus regularly supply choirs to sing at weddings and funerals in the Hertfordshire area.
Recently, with an influx of new, younger members, the choir has branched out, with singers providing vocal support for Ray Davies
in live gigs and his The Kinks Choral Collection
album, Andrea Bocelli
, Goldfrapp
, Bombay Bicycle Club
, Noel Gallagher
, Faryl Smith
and singing the lead track Zadok the Priest
on the album "Pride of the Nation" by the Band of the Coldstream Guards. Hertfordshire Chorus have also provided singers for TV shows including BBC
's "The Choir" and "The One Show" and recently performed Fauré's Requiem mass and several other pieces on BBC Radio 2's Good Friday show: "At the foot of the cross", recorded live in St Albans Cathedral
.
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
s in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with over 130 members from across the county of Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the surrounding areas, performing across the country and regularly touring.
Initially, Hertfordshire Chorus was known as the Hatfield Philharmonic Chorus which, with the Hatfield Philharmonic Orchestra, was conducted by Frank Shipway who was instrumental in founding the Hatfield Philharmonic Society, of which it was a part.
Michael Kibblewhite was appointed chorus master in 1973 and, in 1977, Shipway, muscical director of the orchestra, moved on. The Society appointed Howard Burrell to conduct the orchestra alongside Kibblewhite's choir. The two groups later split, with the orchestra remaining as the Hatfield Philharmonic Society and the chorus becoming independent.
Kibblewhite became the Musical Director and conductor of the new chorus, bringing in professional orchestras for concerts, a trend continued today. David Temple
David Temple
David Temple is a British conductor and musical director of Crouch End Festival Chorus which he has conducted at the Barbican Centre, Royal Festival Hall and Symphony Hall, Birmingham...
replaced Kibblewhite as Musical Director in September 2000 and Susan Graham-Smith has been their accompanist since 1991.
The choir has performed in venues across the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, including the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
and The Sage Gateshead. Hertfordshire Chorus is renowned for its innovative programming, frequently involving commissions such as "Mass in Blue" and "Ode to a Nightingale" by Will Todd
Will Todd
Will Todd is an English classical composer and pianist.- Biography :Todd was born in County Durham, attended Durham School and studied music at the University of Bristol...
, "Ice" by Orlando Gough
Orlando Gough
Orlando Gough is a British composer, educated at Oxford, and noted for projects written for ballet, contemporary dance and theatre. Collaborators have included Siobhan Davies, Alain Platel, Shobana Jeyasingh and Ashley Page of The Royal Ballet. He is artistic director of The Shout, which he...
and "Solaris" by Steve Block.
Hertfordshire Chorus regularly supply choirs to sing at weddings and funerals in the Hertfordshire area.
Recently, with an influx of new, younger members, the choir has branched out, with singers providing vocal support for Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
in live gigs and his The Kinks Choral Collection
The Kinks Choral Collection
The Kinks Choral Collection is an album, released 15 June 2009 in the UK and 10 November 2009 in the US, by Ray Davies and the Crouch End Festival Chorus...
album, Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
, Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
, Bombay Bicycle Club
Bombay Bicycle Club
Bombay Bicycle Club are a British indie rock and folk band from Crouch End, London. The band comprises: Jack Steadman , Jamie MacColl , Ed Nash and Suren de Saram ....
, Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
, Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith
Faryl Smith is a British teen mezzo-soprano who rose to fame after auditioning for the second series of the ITV television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. She received praise throughout the competition, and although she was the favourite to win after the second round, she finished...
and singing the lead track Zadok the Priest
Zadok the Priest
Zadok the Priest is a coronation anthem composed by George Frideric Handel using texts from the King James Bible. It is one of the four Coronation Anthems that Handel composed for the coronation of George II of Great Britain in 1727,The other Coronation Anthems Handel composed are: The King Shall...
on the album "Pride of the Nation" by the Band of the Coldstream Guards. Hertfordshire Chorus have also provided singers for TV shows including BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's "The Choir" and "The One Show" and recently performed Fauré's Requiem mass and several other pieces on BBC Radio 2's Good Friday show: "At the foot of the cross", recorded live in St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
.