Choir celebrates 50 years of song

Chiltern Chamber Choir has just celebrated its 50th birthday. It was founded in 1976 by Adrian Davis, who conducted the choir for 46 of those 50 years.

He set up the choir as a small ensemble of experienced singers with a view to performing repertoire close to his musical taste and style. Throughout the years, the choir has outgrown its original chamber size, but is still very much ‘chamber’ in spirit, ability and ambition.

Like Adrian before him, the current young conductor Calum Zuckert brings a wonderfully relaxed sense of humour to rehearsals, meaning there is as much laughing as singing. Rehearsals are on a Thursday night at 7.45pm at the Sacred Heart Church Hall in Berkhamsted.

The choir is always keen to hear from experienced singers who are interested in joining, and is particularly intent on encouraging the next generation, so membership is free to those under 35.

Over the years, the choir has toured to France, Spain and Italy on many occasions.

The next concert is, as always, on 23 December in St. Peter’s Church, Berkhamsted, when the choir will be presenting Haydn’s Creation.

See chilternchamberchoir.com or email choirmanager@chilternchamberchoir.org.