Hertford's new chamber choir had a first public performance in March 2022 singing choral evensong at St Stephen's Church, Rochester Row, Westminster, London, accompanied by the church's organist Matthew Blaiden. The music included Charles Stanford Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, Claudio Monteverdi Adoramus Te and William Smith Preces and Responses. We were resplendent in cassocks and surplices kindly lent to us by St Mary's Hertingfordbury which a couple of choir members kindly transported up to central London. After the service we headed off for some drinks and a meal at a local Italian restaurant, making a thoroughly enjoyable evening for all.

Our next performance will be local in Hertford on Friday June 3rd, 2022 when we will be singing in the Jubilee Choral Celebration as part of the Hertfordshire Festival of Music 2022. We also have a concert planned later in the year as well as a trip to Vienna. HCC has a small number of vacancies for singers including soprano, alto and tenor voice parts and auditions can be arranged on request. If you are interested in finding out more, please check our website or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

Hertford’s new chamber choir, set up at the start of this year under the umbrella of Hertford Choral Society (HCS) and led by HCS Musical Director Manvinder Rattan, is now rehearsing monthly with 24 experienced and keen singers.  Manvinder, CEO of the Voices Foundation and an experienced conducting and choral trainer, is very pleased to be up-and-running: I am delighted we’ve set this choir up because it’s bringing together some very strong singers as well as singers with potential. Choirs are teams - we have started getting to know each other as people and musically. It is a very promising start.

HCC’s repertoire will complement that of the large choral works performed by HCS with interesting, challenging pieces suitable for a smaller group of singers. Its music is broad and varied, from early Renaissance to contemporary, sacred and secular, a cappella and accompanied.

An exciting programme of local and overseas engagements is already planned for the next 12 months.  The choir will be available to sing at events, including weddings.

HCC has a small number of vacancies for singers including soprano, alto and tenor voice parts and auditions can be arranged on request. If you are interested in finding out more, please check our website at www.hertfordchoral.org.uk or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

Are you up for joining a chamber choir?

HCS is setting up a chamber choir, led by Manvinder Rattan to rehearse and perform interesting and challenging repertoire suitable for a smaller group of singers.  Operating under the umbrella of HCS, membership will be separate to membership of HCS and will be subject to a short audition. We are aiming for a choir of around 30 voices, approximately 10 sopranos, 8 altos, 6 tenors and 6 basses.

The repertoire will be broad and varied, from the early Renaissance to contemporary, sacred and secular, a cappella and accompanied. Performances will be local and further afield. Planned performances include evensong in London in early March, followed by a performance in the Hertfordshire Festival of Music on 5th June (Britten’s Choral Dances from Gloriana). Future opportunities might include weddings, our own concerts and singing trips.

Rehearsals:

Rehearsal days will take place one Saturday per month in Hertford (10am to 4pm). Dates for 2022 are:

22 January

19 February

12 March

23 April

21 May

11 June

9 July

24 September

15 October

12 November

Singers will be expected to learn their part between rehearsals so that rehearsal time together is spent working on the interpretation of the music and creating a professional sound.

Costs:

Singers will cover the cost of rehearsals and music, and we anticipate performance income in due course. Singers will be expected to pay approximately £250 during the first year for 10 rehearsal days, payable as a lump sum in January or per quarter. A student discount will be available.

Auditions:

As an audition, we ask you to send in a recording of you singing a song of your choice. The most important skills we are looking for are whether you are able to sing in tune and whether your voice is likely to blend well in a small choir. If you are not quite there yet, we will want to encourage you to work on your singing technique and audition again later in the year, subject to spaces available in the choir.

To sign up?

Please follow this link and complete the form: sign up to Hertford Chamber Choir.  

For further information, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.