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BBC Singers (Chamber Choir)

Founded: 1924 (as Wireless Chorus) - London, England

The BBC Singers are the UK's only full-time professional chamber choir. World-renowned for their dynamic performances of contemporary music, the group has commissioned, premiered and recorded new works for over 75 years by many of the 20th century's key composers, including Francis Poulenc, Benjamin Britten, Tippett, Pierre Boulez and Luciano Berio.

The group performs and records choral music from the 16th century to the present day, with regular broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Television, frequent appearances at the BBC Proms, and a busy concert schedule throughout the UK and abroad.

In addition to working regularly with the BBC's own orchestras, the BBC Singers collaborate with the Britten Sinfonia, City of London Sinfonia, Endymion Ensemble, Ensemble Intercontemporain and London Sinfonietta. Last autumn's season included concerts in London, Oxford, Cambridge and Norwich, and appearances for the Zurich and Huddersfield contemporary music festivals.

The BBC Singers' recordings include a series of six CDs exploring some of the most challenging choral repertoire of the last 150 years; the most recent release is a disc of music by James MacMillan. The BBC Singers have recently appointed Bob Chilcott as Principal Guest Conductor and Edward Cowie as Associate Composer, and offered Conductor Fellowships to two young conductors (Justin Doyle and Aidan Oliver) - a scheme which will offer them training, experience and professional engagements.

The group plays a leading role in the musical life of the BBC as well as the wider musical community, and regular education work helps train and enthuse future generations of voice students, composers and conductors. The BBC Singers continue to explore the farthest reaches of the choral repertoire, and are instrumental in adding to it by commissioning and performing new and challenging works.

Choir Directors & Chief Conductors

Stanford Robinson (1924-1932)
Leslie Woodgate (1934-1961)
Peter Gellhorn (1961-1972)
John Poole (1972-1989)
Simon Joly (1989-1995)
Stephen Cleobury (1995-2007)
David Hill (2007-2017)
Sofi Jeannin (2018-Present)

Members of the BBC Singers:

Sopranos

Altos

Tenors

Basses

Ildikó Allen
Nina Bennet
Emma Brain-Gabbott
Julie Cooper
Hilary Cronin
Elizabeth Drury
Rachel Haworth
Eloise Irving
Nicola Jenkin
Siân Menna
Eleanor Meynell
Amy Moore
Helen Neeves
Suzanne Pederson
Cressida Sharp
Pamela Priestly-Smith
Alison Smart
Katie Trethewey
Julia Wilson-James

Lynette Alcantara
Catherine Backhouse
Cathy Bell
Jacqueline Connell
Hannah Cooke
Ruth Gibbins
Jessica Gillingwater
Judith Harris
Vanessa Heine
Polly Jeffries
Rebekah Jones
Ruth Kiang
Eleanor Minney
Penny Vickers

Ben Alden
Daniel Auchincloss
Andrew Busher
Robert Johnston
Thomas Kelly
Ian Kennedy
William Knight
Andrew MacKenzie-Wicks
Tim Lawrence
Nicholas Madden
Simon McEnery
Gareth Morrell
Andrew Murgatroyd
Jonathan Rathbone

Richard Bannan
Richard Bourne
Michael Bundy
Stephen Charlesworth
William Dawes
Charles Gibbs
Jamie Hall
Adrian Horsewood
Stephen Kennedy
Thomas Lowen
Edmund Saddington
Brindley Sherratt
Jonathan Stainsby
Laurence Whitehead
Philip Wilcox


More Photos

Sources:
BBC Singers Website
Contributed by
Aryeh Oron (May 2003, April 2015, March 2017, November 2023)

Sofi Jeannin: Short Biography | Ensembles: BBC Singers
Bach Discography:
Recordings of Vocal Works

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Stephen Cleobury

Choir

BWV 63, BWV 150, BWV 182, BWV 225-229

George Enescu

Choir

BWV 232 [as BBC Chorus]

Jane Glover

Choir

BWV 226

David Hill

Choir

C-2 (2013): BWV 106, BWV 227, BWV 247
V-1 (2012, Audio):
BWV 248/1-3

Otto Klemperer

Choir

BWV 232 [2nd & 3rd - as BBC Chorus]

Links to other Sites

BBC Singers - Homepage


Biographies of Performers: Main Page | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Explanation | Acronyms | Missing Biographies | The Sad Corner




 

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Last update: Friday, December 01, 2023 12:11