City Chorus (formerly known as the National Westminster Choir) began life in 1920 as a choir set up by staff of the then National Provincial Bank.  Highlights of the choir's early years include its inaugural performance at Westminster Central Hall, Ralph Vaughan Williams conducting his own Fantasia on Christmas Carols, and one of the choir's concerts shown on television - a novelty at the time. In 1966 the choir appointed its first professional conductor, Ian Humphris, who led the choir for 40 years. The choir is open to all, without audition, and presents three or four concerts a year. For more information about our current activities, please visit www.londoncitychorus.com.

 

Some of our past concerts

2023 - "We reunite", spring concert (performed in London and Son in the Netherlands with EeenvanZin)

2022 - Centenary Concert: Mozart Coronation Mass, Handel My Heart is Inditing

2022 - Spring Concert: Handel, Sullivan, Goss and Mendelsohn

2021 - Christmas Concert

2019 - Rossini Messe Solennnelle

2018 –Songs of Travel incl. new works from four composers (in London and on the Isle of Man with the Lon Dhoo choir)

2018 - The Armed Man (Jenkins)

2017 – Riversong (performed in London and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival)

2017 – Durufle Requiem and Vivaldi Magnificat

2016 – Music from Two Islands (performed in London and on the Isle of Wight with the Orpheus Singers)

2016 – Faure Requiem

2015 – Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols

2015 – Spring Songs (performed in London and in Brussels with Le Choeur Sammartini)

2014 - Stabat Mater (Pergolesi) - The Frost Chorale Concert (Southwark Cathedral) - Cries of London

2013 - Heinichen & Vivaldi - Royal Music (Handel, Britten, Walton, Elgar, Stanford)

2012 - Songs of Sports & Games - Ring out, wild bells

2011 - A Celebration of Motherhood - 90 Years of Note (Vaughan Williams, Handel, Ives, Andrew)

2010 - Around the World in Eighty Minutes - Haydns, Mozarts & Mendelssohns

2009 - Baroque Discoveries (Heinichen, Kuhnau, Lotti, Grabu & Handel)

2008 - Excerpts from Carmen (Bizet)

2008 - Elijah (Mendelssohn)

2007 - Anthem on the Peace and the Foundling Hospital Anthem (Handel) & Gloria (Vivaldi)

2007 - Carmina Burana (Orff)

2006 - 'Nelson’ Mass (Haydn)

2005 - Creation

2004 - Messiah

2003 - Requiem (Mozart) - QEH - J. Kennard; J. Ager; I. Partridge; M. George

2002 - Messa di Gloria - Southwark Cathedral

2001 - St Matthew Passion

2000 - 80th Anniversary Concert - QEH - Requiem (Fauré); Serenade to Music (RVW)

 

Conductors

2008 to date     - Paul Ayres

2007-2008         - Michael Downes, currently Director of Music at St Andrews University

1966-2006         - Ian Humphris, head of Choral and Vocal Studies at the Centre for Young Musicians,                                            conductor of the Linden Singers and  a presenter on both the BBC and ITV.

1941-1965        - Gerry Darling

1920-1938        - Herbert Baggs FRCO, founder member of the original choir which consisted of

                                  158 singers and 20 orchestral players