Registered Charity Number 1057007

President: The Dean of Bristol
Chairman: Caroline Elford
Musical Director: Mark Lee M.A., F.R.C.O.
Accompanist: Paul Walton M.Mus.,F.R.C.O., P.P.R.N.C.M

Since its foundation in 1953 the choir has established a reputation for excellent music-making, promoting a wide variety of choral works in partnership with fine orchestras and soloists. Our major performances take place in the inspiring surroundings of Bristol Cathedral, giving our audiences the experience of hearing choral works old and new in the setting for which for they were composed.

Our popular Christmas concerts, allowing the audience to get into the Christmas spirit by enjoying a mix of the best of Christmas music both traditional and contemporary are a highlight each year. These are followed by a Spring concert featuring one of the major works of the choral repertoire. Our summer concert showcases shorter, and in some cases, lighter classics.

We start the 2010 - 11 season with a Come and Sing Day, where all comers are welcome to spend the day learning and then giving an informal performance of Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man, first performed in 2000, which will form part of the Spring concert later on in the year.

Each November the choir plays a more traditional role, singing a Requiem as part of the Cathedral's annual service for All Souls' Day. This year we are looking forward to singing a modern work, new to the Choir, Sir Philip Ledger's highly acclaimed 'Requiem: A Thanksgiving for Life' of 2007, described as being highly original and thoroughly engaging.

Our Christmas concerts will follow the winning formula of recent years, giving our audience, many of whom come back each year for this essential part of their Christmas celebrations, the chance to relax and listen to traditional carols and Christmas music, along with newer Christmas favourites and - of course - to join in with singing the well-known carols.

The main work of our spring concert will be Karl Jenkins' 'The Armed Man', subtitled 'A Mass for Peace'. Having worked in advertising and in jazz for a number of years, Karl Jenkins' music first came to the attention of the public in 1995 with the popular 'Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary.' 'The Armed Man' was commissioned by the Royal Armouries and written during the height of the Kosovo war. First performed in 2000, it draws on an eclectic mix of texts and musical traditions, including Brazilian rhythms and traditional elements of the Latin mass. The main theme is based on a medieval French song, 'L'Homme Armé', which both opens and closes the work. With its heartfelt words and excitingly diverse musical references, it is a work to appeal to a wide range of music-lovers, whether they come to it from a classical or popular music background.

In June the choir will perform Music for a Summer Evening, at St George's Easton-in-Gordano. The concert programme will include a number of short pieces befitting a country church, and celebrating enjoyment of the sunshine, we hope, of summer.

As well as its musical activities the Concert Choir holds occasional social events and a summer supper to mark the end of the season.

In 2010 the Concert Choir welcomed the 30 talented young singers of the Bristol Cathedral Consort (a young persons' choir providing 11-18 year olds with the opportunity of singing in Bristol's magnificent Cathedral) into its ranks and this collaboration will continue during the coming season

The Choir gratefully acknowledges financial support from:

Lilian Simmons Trust

The Paragon Concert Society

The Coutts Charitable Trust

Last updated on: 23/07/2010