Stamford Choral is a large mixed choir; its history stretches back to at least 1879, the heyday of choral societies, and today we are in good health with a membership of around 80, of various ages. Under the skilled leadership of its professional musical director, Jeremy Jepson, the choir performs three concerts a year.
The programme draws mainly from the classical sacred choral repertoire but also has an eye to twentieth-century composers as well as an interest in contemporary composers. Whatever the repertoire, the goal is to create a vibrant, well-blended and musical sound, worthy of the music we perform. Our audiences appreciate the choir’s commitment to high standards and the choir enjoys an excellent relationship with its audience, many of whom travel some distance to support us.
Accompanist
We are delighted to have as our accompanist Christopher Brown. Christopher was born in North Lincolnshire and was a chorister in Barton-upon Humber. He studied music at Durham University and organ with James Lancelot, and was Organ Scholar at Ripon Cathedral. He was Director of Music at St Oswald’s in Durham (the church of hymnodist J.B. Dykes) and subsequently at Halifax Minster. He is now Director of Music at Deeping Priory and also a soloist, accompanist and teacher in the area. He has particular interest in the works of J.S. Bach, the French Symphonic organ tradition and English choral music of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Famous Musicians
Two of the most famous Stamfordians of the musical world have had some association with Stamford Choral. Although he never directed the choir, Sir Malcolm Sargent, the famous conductor, was President for twenty years. The composer Michael Tippett attended Stamford School, and was a past President of the society.
Sir Malcolm Sargent Trust
Since Malcolm Sargent’s death in 1967, the Society has sought to celebrate his contribution to music with the ‘Malcolm Sargent Concert’, a concert given in conjunction with the Stamford Endowed Schools Choral Society. This takes place every three years, and the next one will be performed in 2019.
Malcolm Sargent in 1960