Kings Lynn Festival Chorus is a dynamic and engaging choir drawing members from across Norfolk and neighbouring counties.

The ensemble was founded in 1977 for a performance in the King’s Lynn Festival, conducted by Christopher Hogwood. Some fifty years on, the Chorus enjoys a busy schedule of concerts and events and a prominent position on the landscape of the region’s music-making.

With Music Director Ben Horden, the Chorus performs from an extensive and wide-ranging repertoire and does so with a commitment and enthusiasm enjoyed by its warm and receptive audiences. It has performed many of the great choral works, with recent and forthcoming highlights including Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s Creation, J S Bach’s St John Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Carl Orf’s Carmina Burana, Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and Duruflé’s Requiem. Other programmes have featured Broadway classics, American spirituals and modern arrangements of well-known jazz and pop numbers.

The Chorus is proud of its association with the King’s Lynn Festival and of its own collaborations with internationally renowned artists and ensembles. These have included Dame Emma Kirkby, Elizabeth Watts, Peter Daveron, the English Chamber Orchestra, the European Union Chamber Orchestra, Voces8 and Stile Antico. The Chorus has recorded two CDs, most recently a Christmas compilation 'Hark!' for which they were joined by brass ensemble Mardi Brass.

Alongside its music-making, the Chorus enjoys a vibrant social dynamic.

It has enjoyed tours across Europe where performing wonderful music in magnificent venues has been coupled with the opportunity to spend time together and build on a strong community spirit. Past tours have included Spain, Italy, Belgium, France, and Ireland, with concert appearances at St Mark’s Basilica in Venice, the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, and the cathedrals of Rouen and Dublin.

We are always pleased to hear from anyone with a love of choral music who would like to share in our commitment and passion to learn and perform. We rehearse weekly during term time and usually perform three or four concerts a year. We are a friendly, vibrant, experienced chorus who bring energy and enthusiasm to our performances. If you are considering joining us and would like to know more, please email the Secretary.

Soprano I
Nicola Berns
Amanda Claydon
Jean Combeer-McGarrick
Tristan Courtis
Gina Hart
Helen Herbert
Sheila Johnson
Rachel Lamb
Abigail Leach
Michelle Marple
Tamzin Pimlott
Barbara Quigley
Fiona Ross
Ieva Tamulioniene
Lilah Teeuw
Victoria Vendettuoli

Soprano II
Clare Bee
Ena Burgess
Jillian Davis
Katie Fisher
Doreen Hendley
Veronica Hutchby
Victoria Lee
Claire Legg
Helen L’Estrange
Ruth Mason
Rachel Mellor
Janet Walker
Gillian West
Barbara Wix

Alto I
Angela Allen
Alex Angles
Rosie Archer
Christine Baker
Pat Blyth
Zoe Callender
Bridget Chilvers
Gill Daniels
Alison Dixon-Brown
Sue Downing
Emily Hague
Nicola Hancock
Alison Henry
Alison Hoyle
Clare Howard-Vyse
Amanda Hughes
Grace Hume
Helen Lilley
Jane Little
Lynne Loose
Penny Matkin
Denise Mole
Joella Nash
Nina Rye
Ania Szypula
Johanna Willson

Alto II
Rosemary Bell
Jo Carne
Yodah Galloway
Wendy Hendrie
Sue Hibberd
Janet Hume
Fiona McGovern
Rosemary Mehers
Marion Newell
Anne Peppitt
Penny Sutton
Fiona Thompson
Jan Willson
Jane Wilson 

Tenor I
Sara Barns
Michael Bernasiak
Colin Gilmore
Andy Hiles
Jim McGarrick
Patrick Talbot

Tenor II
Colin Blackmore
Kevin Carruthers
Adrain Johnson
Barbara Smith
Peter Young

Bass I
Clive Aldred
Nick Balaam
David Collingham
Mark Holland
Martin L’Estrange
Seb Moore
Andrew Stewart
Howard Taylor
Nick Torry
Mike Walker 

Bass II
Jonathon Beart
Patrick Hall
Peter Hancock
Oliver Hendrie
Mark Scrivener
Dave Wagstaff
Pete Willson

When and where?

We rehearse at Springwood High School weekly on Monday evenings during term time from 7.15—9.15pm. We are a friendly group and are always pleased to see prospective members on a Monday evening with no obligation, so why not come and see what we’re about?

Join us

We are always pleased to hear from anyone with a love of choral music who would like to share in our commitment and passion to learn and perform. We rehearse weekly during term time and perform around three or four concerts a year. We are a friendly, vibrant, experienced chorus who bring energy and enthusiasm to our performances. If you are considering joining us and would like to know more, please get in touch.

Choir photography
© Matthew Johnson Photographer

PHOTO CREDITS