The Singers is a chamber choir of around twenty five mixed voices based in Newcastle.
The choir draws its singers mainly from Newcastle and Northumberland but some singers travel considerable distances to participate in choir events.
The choir aims to maintain a sweetness and clarity of tone with impeccable tuning which is particularly appropriate for the earlier choral repertoire which is one of its specialities.
A high standard of musicianship and sight-reading is required as the group does not meet on a regular weekly basis largely owing to the numerous other musical commitments members.
VENUES
The venues the choir has sung either in concert or for services include:
- Durham Cathedral
- York Minster
- Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
- St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh
- Southwark Cathedral, London
- St George’s, Windsor
- Coventry Cathedral
- Chester Cathedral
- Beverley Minster
- Hexham Abbey
- Ripon Cathedral
- Fountains Abbey, near Ripon
- Blackburn Cathedral
- Wakefield Cathedral
- Carlisle Cathedral
- The Sage Gateshead
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London
- Ushaw College, Durham University
- Kings Hall, Newcastle University
- Holy Trinity Church, Coventry
- Holy Trinity Church, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Simonburn Early Music Festival
- Alnwick Music Club
- Brinkburn Priory
- Bishop Auckland Castle
- Brancepeth Castle
- St George’s, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne
- All Saints, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Seaton Delaval Hall
- Abbaye-aux-Hommes, Caen
- Coutances Cathedral
- Eglise Jean d’Arc, Rouen
- St Mary’s Basilica, Bonsecours
- Cologne Cathedral
- Basilica of St Aposteln, Cologne
- St Severin, Cologne
- St Georg, Cologne
- Gross St Martin, Cologne
- St Andreas, Cologne
- St Kunibert, Cologne
- St Ursula, Cologne
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
In addition to the above, The Singers have sung with the Northern Sinfonia under guest conductor Andrew Parrott in a performance of Haydn’s Harmoniemesse in Hexham Abbey. The choir also over a period of ten years joined the English Philharmonic Orchestra under David Haslam for the renowned annual Candlelit Christmas Concert Tour in a variety of north east venues.
The Singers also sang with the Paco Pena Flamenco Troupe in a thrilling performance of Paco Pena’s Requiem for the Earth at The Sage, Gateshead which was rewarded with a standing ovation. The Singers also featured and performed in a BBC Radio 3 broadcast from The Sage in 2018 performing music by Eccard.
In 2018/2019 The Singers collaborated with composer, Edmund Hunt, on a new 15 minute unaccompanied choral work Vita Hominum. The premier was in St George’s Church, Jesmond in December 2018. This was recorded and subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3. In 2019 The Singers performed Vita Hominum in Durham Cathedral, Coventry Cathedral and, memorably, to an enthusiastic, capacity audience in St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
The Singers after a concert in Rothbury, October 2018