Hertfordshire Chorus adds to Michael Hurd discography

Another new experience for Hertfordshire Chorus. The British Music Society approached us about recording five works by British composer Michael Hurd. Michael Hurd died in 2006, aged 77 after 50 years composing a wide variety of music. The BMS established a charitable trust to administer a legacy from his estate, with the aim of fostering and encouraging recordings and performances of his music. He is perhaps best known for his Jonah Man Jazz, sung by countless schoolchildren over the years. Asked to not only record the five compositions, we were also to project manage the recording! No small task. Organising the project Music Director David Temple and Operations Director Robin Seaman set about organising the long list of things that ... Read More

Neverlight Album Released

Neverlight launched Nova Red on the 23rd June and it sounds fantastic. Amanda Farrell has a powerful rich voice and if you like metal then this should be on your shopping list! Neverlight describe themselves and Nova Red "Amanda and Josh Farrell formed Neverlight in 2013 in an effort to share their journey with cancer and perhaps to provide a touchstone for others as they travel their own paths. Nova Red is a literary rollercoaster ride of dark progressive metal, and it is a distilled culmination of their journey thus far. Feel the frustration, the anger, the loneliness, and the painful goodbye, the lust, the joy, the temptation and the final triumph". Buy the album Buy the album on iTunes or ... Read More

Codebreaker performed in America

Commissioning music is always a risk. We are fortunate that our Musical Director David Temple is passionate about supporting young composers and bringing new large-scale choral music to the choral community. Sometimes the music is never performed again and sometimes it goes on to be a great success. We have also been fortunate to have had two successful commissions, picked up and performed by others choirs. Imagine our delight to hear that our latest commission Codebreaker, by James McCarthy, was performed on the 2nd April in Charlotte, North Carolina and will be performed again on the 22nd and 23rd April in Nashville Tennesse. Codebreaker forms the central piece in a collaboration between Nashville in Harmony Nashville in Harmony and One Voice Chorus , called Mapping Stars. ... Read More

In the metal – recording backing for Neverlight

On Sunday 19th February we were back in the recording studio, very excited to be involved in an unusual project. Neverlight, a gothic experimental band from Colorado, approached us to sing backing vocals for a few of the tracks on their forthcoming album. All we needed to do was to find a recording studio and gather 40 singers. We had a great time and were delighted to hear how pleased the band were. Here's a quote, " The Hertfordshire Chorus was amazing to work with, and the final result is breathtaking!" Time-zone differences meant that the band could not join us as we sang but they were able to join us via Skype before the end. Check out the band's ... Read More

The Kingdom “First Class” performance

Performers put their heart and souls into the best show they can and reading reviews is always carried out with a little trepidation, so how wonderful it was to read John Manning's review of our performance of Elgar's The Kingdom in the Herts Advertiser. You can read it too here. David Temple, Music Director, wrote in the programme "I am fortunate enough to conduct many of the greatest choral works ever written. In my partnership with the choir we work so hard to make sure each piece is the best we have ever done. Occasionally a work like Elgar's The Kingdom comes along which resonates with us so wonderfully - the music itself, the story, the intensity - hopefully to ... Read More

Explore French Romantic Music – Choral Workshop

Hertfordshire Chorus is delighted to announce a vocal workshop led by Neil Ferris on Saturday 14 January 2017, 10am - 4:30pm. This workshop promises to be stimulating and enjoyable day that will appeal to experienced choral singers. Its theme will be French music from the Romantic period, with motets by Duruflé, Debussy, Saint-Saëns and parts of Frank Martin's Mass for Double Choir. Book your place now to avoid disappointment Tickets: £20, students (18 or over) in further education £10 Tickets are available either from Hertfordshire Chorus members or online at http://ticketsource.co.uk/hertfordshirechorus or by phone on 07482 953 092 (24 hour voicemail)

Hertfordshire Chorus Sing at the Royal Academy

We were delighted to support Chesterton's annual fundraiser at the Royal Academy in June. Twenty five members sang in a variety of rooms and locations at this prestigious venue, to add atmosphere to guests' experience.

Hertfordshire Chorus record Codebreaker and Ode to a Nightingale

In June we were thrilled to find ourselves realising a long-held ambition to record two of our recent commissions, James McCarthy’s Codebreaker and Will Todd’s Ode to a Nightingale. Following months of hard fundraising, the whole choir gathered at Watford Colosseum with the BBC Concert Orchestra, producer Nigel Short (founder of Tenebrae), David Temple conducting and of course James and Will. The finished version will be released in October 2017 on Signum Records and launched at a concert in St Albans Cathedral. We owe a great deal to Signum records and the BBC Concert Orchestra for supporting us in this venture.