I’ve directed the Nottingham Bach Choir since 1989. In those days it was called the Nottingham Bach Society and, when founded in 1954 by David Lumsden (one of my predecessors at Southwell), it featured a regularly-rehearsed orchestra. This auditioned Choir is about 100-strong on the concert platform. The members are mainly Nottingham-based singers, many of them accountants, doctors, teachers, lawyers or lecturers—and all are passionate about the great repertoire for large choirs.

The Choir gives four concerts a year (the fourth is a popular carol concert) which cover the whole of the choral society repertoire. Bach is the composer most regularly performed, but my personal passion for Elgar is very much apparent! Our own orchestra still performs, though it rehearses only on the day. Occasionally another orchestra such as the Orchestra da Camera will play, as it did for our 50th anniversary performance in Southwell Minster of the St Matthew Passion. This was a truly memorable day when we sang the complete work in German, with English surtitles, to a packed cathedral.

Tuesday night rehearsals are a pleasant and stimulating prelude to my day off on a Wednesday!

Visit Nottingham Bach Choir’sweb site (opens in a new window)