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SOUTHEND BOYS' CHOIR
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The Southend Boys’ Choir was formed in 1970, and is one of the best known in the UK. The choir has performed with major orchestras, including RPO, LSO, Philharmonia, City of London Sinfonia, BBC SO, and has made many highly acclaimed recordings.
The choir has sung under some of the world’s greatest conductors, including Addado, Muti, Mehta, Sinopoli, Tilson Thomas, Rostropovitch, Sir David Willcocks, Sir Colin Davis, and Richard Hickox. Richard Hickox is the choir’s president, in succession to Benjamin Britten and Sir Peter Pears.
The Southend Boys’ Choir performs regularly in the major London concert venues, in addition to performances in Europe, including Ypres Cathedral, Peronne, Amiens, Paris and Poland. Recent concerts include performances of Carmina Burana at the Royal Albert Hall, Tosca, Berlioz Te Deum, Britten’s War Requiem and Spring Symphony, in addition to performances in the BBC Proms Series in 2000, 2001 and 2003.
The choir consists of 80 boys aged 8 upwards from Southend and surrounding areas, who audition for their places in the choir. In 2003 the choir was successful in gaining financial support from National Foundation for Youth Music, to develop a programme of singing workshops across Southend called Sing 4 Life, involving many young people in the area. One of the outcomes of the project was the formation of the Southend Boys’ and Girls’ Training Choir. The two choirs join together for a number of concerts each year, when senior members of both choirs work on specialised repertoire for performances and recordings.
The choirs made a recording with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2000, have performed at the Royal Albert Hall for the past 4 years, and in 2000 made a commercial CD entitled Angelis – Voices of Angels, which received major coverage on national radio stations. The choirs’ second CD Angelis A Christmas Blessing, released in December 2003, also received high critical acclaim. Other commercial recordings have also been made by the choirs.
The choirs' diversity shows them recording backing vocals for pop songs for Warner Bros, performing in the Crypt of the House of Commons, singing in performances of 'Nutcracker' Ballet, and performing at the launch of the liner "Millennium" in Southampton.
Jointly the choirs perform for Music Clubs and festivals around the country.
'The heavenly voices of the Southend Boys' Choir.' Daily Telegraph
'The singers made an impressive sight and sound.'
'The crisp Southend Boys' Choir made a healthy descant.'
'Especially poignant was the Southend Boys' Choir in the Gallery. A sorrowful purity informed their Chorister Chant.' Evening Standard.
'Overwhelming fusion of physical impact and emotional power.' The Independent
'I have never in years heard such fantastically clear diction from any Choir.' The Guardian
'The brightest singing of the Southend Boys' Choir is among the best on any recording.' The Gramophone
For more information on the Southend Boys' Choir, please contact:
Musical Director - Southend Boys' Choir (Roger Humphrey)
PO Box 6
Civic Centre
Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
Essex
SS2 6ER
Tel. 01702 215624 |
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SOUTHEND GIRLS' CHOIR
The Southend Girls’ Choir was founded in 1988, and has since built an enviable reputation across London, the South East and beyond.
The choir has broadcast on television and radio, and performs regularly at the Royal Albert Hall, St Martin in the Fields, Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room. The choir undertakes regular concert tours, and has performed in the Sydney Opera House and for the Australian Broadcasting Company, as part of a three week tour of Australia, in Canada and the US, Seychelles, France, Italy, Germany and across the UK.
In the past, the choir has performed at the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester. Sir David Willcocks is the choir’s president, and takes an active interest in the choir’s development.
The Southend Girls’ Choir has worked with Sir David, in addition to working with eminent conductors and arrangers including Bob Chilcott and John Rutter. The choir has commissioned works by Bob Chilcott, Debbie Wiseman and Ian Hughes, and gave premiere performances at St Martin in the Fields and the Purcell Room in 2002.
.The two choirs join together for a number of concerts each year, when senior members of both choirs work on specialised repertoire for performance and recordings.
The choirs made a recording with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2000, have performed at the Royal Albert Hall for the past 3 years, and in 2000 made a commercial CD entitled Angelis – Voices of Angels, which received major coverage on national radio stations. Their second CD Angelis - A Christmas Blessing, was released in December 2003, and has also sold many copies around the country.
The choirs' diversity shows them recording backing vocals for pop songs for Warner Bros, performing in the Crypt of the House of Commons, and singing at the launch of the liner "Millennium" in Southampton and singing in performances of 'Nutcracker' ballet in theatres across London.
The Southend Girls’ Choir holds the world record, as verified by the Guinness Book of Records, for performing a concert at the highest altitude in aeroplane, above the northern coast of Australia. The choir gave a 45 minute recital at a height of 36,000 feet, thus becoming the world record holders for such an event.
Both choirs are supported by Southend Borough Council.
What people have said about the Southend Girls' Choir ….
'The Southend Girls' Choir is simply the best youth choir around for all sorts of music.'Ian Hughes, composer, director & arranger
'… a wonderful positive bright sound, musically shaped and always with clear words … 'Jasper Thorogood, Director of Music, Felsted School
'The Southend Girls' Choir has a perfect combination of subtlety, energy and character …'Jim Papoulis, composer, director & producer (New York) Sydney Opera House, Australia - 1998
'The Southend Girls' Choir have a purity and clarity of sound that is truly captivating.' - Debbie Wiseman - composer
For more information on the Southend Girls Choir, please contact:
Musical Director - Southend Girls Choir (Rosemary Pennington)
PO Box 6
Civic Centre
Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
Essex
SS2 6ER
Tel. 01702 215624
Southend Choirs Website
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