Greetings from the Chapter House Choir!

Latest News from the Chapter House Choir….

The Chapter House Choir has been delighting audiences for over 50 years with a diverse mixture of a cappella and accompanied choral music from across the centuries and around the globe. Building on a highly successful first year with our Musical Director, Benjamin Morris, the 2018–2019 season offers a wide range of programmes, from contemplative to lighter, popular works.

Our October concert was the final one in our series on the theme of exile, reconciliation and peace.  It commemorated three significant events in 1918 and included some sublime music by Parry and Stanford.  Later in October there was an Open Rehearsal, where people met members of the choir and our musical director Benjamin Morris.  Guests could sing with the choir or simply watch the rehearsal.

At Christmas we were delighted to return to the Chapter House of York Minster to perform our trademark traditional Carols by Candlelight with our very own Handbell Ringers.  We followed Carols by Candlelight with a Christmas concert, Mirabile Mysterium, in St Michael-le-Belfrey Church, where we were be joined by the Chapter House Youth Choir.

In March 2019 we performed Jonathan Rathbone’s Under the Shadow of His Wing in the presence of the composer.  The work is a beautifully atmospheric extended setting of the service of Vespers. The work was premièred in October 2014 to a rapturous reception, and this was the first performance outside London.

For our Summer 2019 concerts we explored two new venues – St Chad’s Church York and St Mary’s Church Thirsk. The programmes included choral classics such as Vaughan Williams’ Three Shakespeare Songs, and a variety of summery pieces by Elgar, Stanford, Chilcott and others. 

We look forward to welcoming you to our concerts!