Cheltenham Bach Choir has over 100 singing members who share the choir's chief aim to perform a wide variety of works and offer programmes which have a degree of adventure and originality, including the commissioning of new works.

Led by Musical Director David Crown and Assistant Conductor Tim Morris. The choir is privileged to be accompanied by Robin Baggs.

Over the last decade the musical standard has risen steadily to the point where the choir has earned a reputation for being one of the best in South-West England. Each year the choir presents at least four major concerts in venues around Cheltenham, including the Town Hall, the Pump Room, Cheltenham College Chapel and Cirencester Parish Church.

David has been singing and conducting choirs and orchestras since his teens. He won a Choral Scholarship to King’s College, Cambridge and was a university instrumental award holder (viola).

Immediately after leaving university David embarked on a career as a soloist in opera and oratorio, winning several competitions and working with some of the world’s foremost musicians.

David has a considerable reputation as a singing teacher and now teaches at Oxford University having also taught at Bristol University. He was Director of Music at Somerville College, Oxford from 2006-2015 building the choir to one of the most highly regarded mixed choirs in the university. He was Music Director of the Reading Phoenix Choir and took them to the finals of both the BBC Choir of the Year and the Cork International Choral Festival. He is conductor of vOx Chamber Choir in Oxford. His work with choirs and orchestras has attracted superb notices in the UK and abroad. He is increasingly in demand for guest conducting and master-classes. The Choir of Somerville College, Oxford has released two CDs on Stone Records (Duruflé’s Requiem and Advent Calendar) to great acclaim.

Tim was appointed Assistant Music Director in 1998, having filled the post of Chorus Master for the previous nine years and been involved with the choir for over forty years.

Tim’s early musical training was under Eric Suddrick, a founder accompanist for the CBC and one of its former conductors. He went on to Selwyn College, Cambridge where, in theory, he studied Natural Sciences but, in practice, spent most of his time making music. The first concert he conducted on leaving university was in Gloucester Cathedral in April 1973. Tim is well known locally as an accomplished musician. In addition to his CBC role he was, for many years, conductor of the Oriel Singers, winners of the 2005 BBC Choir of the Year competition.

Robin is in great demand as a choral accompanist. He read music at Trinity College Cambridge, and completed post-graduate studies there in keyboard performance, palaeography and criticism.

For a number of years Robin worked as a writer and critic for The Musical Times and other publications. He is accompanist to a number of choirs in the Bristol and Cotswold areas and as a concert organist he has toured in over twelve countries in Europe. After many years as Organist and then Director of Music at Westonbirt School in Gloucestershire, he now divides his time between recital work, private teaching and accompanying.

Become a singing member of Cheltenham Bach Choir

The Choir is keen to attract new singing members of all ages and voice parts, especially tenors and basses.

Sight reading ability is desirable but NOT essential and entry is by audition (repeated every 3 years).

There are many personal benefits of singing with a choir; Singing is good for your physical and mental health and being in a choir is as very good for your social life!

To find out more and express your interest in joining the choir please get in touch with our membership secretary Louise Salter.

membership@cheltbachchoir.com

Auditions

New members are welcome even if you don't have a lot of singing experience. You're welcome to come to a couple of rehearsals to get to know us before auditioning.

The ability to sight-read music is an advantage, but not essential. However, good musicianship and a willingness to practice your voice part between rehearsals are important. Auditions consist of scales and vocal exercises. You will not be expected to prepare a piece in advance. When you pass your audition you will join the section of the choir which suits your voice. From then on you will be expected to prepare for and sing in every concert. All choir members are re-auditioned every three years.

Auditions are held on the second or third Tuesday of each term. It is best (but not essential) to join in September or January. For details please contact membership secretary Louise Salter.

CBC Workshops

Cheltenham Bach Choir run regular choral workshops which are open to all singers, whether or not they are members of the choir. Everyone is warmly welcomed.

If you have considered joining the Cheltenham Bach Choir these workshops are an excellent opportunity to come along for a day of singing while getting to know the Choir and enjoy singing with the choir's Musical Director and Accompanist.

There are times when the uplifting sound of a choir transforms a special occasion into something more meaningful and special.

For church wedding services the choir can sing a special choral work when the bride and groom withdraw to sign the register, and the congregational hymns will sound glorious with the guests singing with the Choir.

Civil ceremonies will take on the feel of a more traditional marriage ceremony with a choral piece included.