A Classical Choral Society for Malmesbury (Wiltshire, UK) and environs.
Thomas began conducting the Malmesbury Singers in June 2023, following the retirement of their previous conductor Iain Duffin, who had been involved with the choir for 32 years.
The Malmesbury Singers is a very friendly, mixed choir, which has been performing in Malmesbury since 1961. The choir are privileged to rehearse and give concerts in Malmesbury Abbey, a beautiful, inspiring 12th Century abbey in the heart of Malmesbury, Wiltshire. The choir sing a wide variety of choral music to suit all tastes and perform regularly with full orchestra and professional soloists. Read about the choir’s history here.
The Malmesbury Singers originally held rehearsals in Malmesbury Upper School, but they are now held in Malmesbury Abbey. Approximately 60 – 70 singers make up the Malmesbury Singers, coming from about a 25 mile radius of Malmesbury. We usually put on at least two concerts a year, although we do occasionally put on a light summer concert.
Past concerts include many varied works, including home grown creations Hannah and the Tyger and Eilmer, to major choral works such as Verdi’s Requiem and Haydn’s Creation.
New members are always welcome – there is usually a short voice appraisal, however this is very informal and you just need to bring a short piece to sing.
For the choir's next concert, we will be performing a light summer concert of 'Folk, Fancy and Faith' - consisting of Cecilia McDowall's A Fancy of Folksongs, Gustav Holst's Six Choral Folksongs and Ola Gjeilo's Sunrise Mass. This will take place in the beautiful Malmesbury Abbey on Saturday 22nd June 2024, commencing at 7:30pm.
Tickets for the concert will be released soon.
Our previous concert was on Saturday 9th March 2024 - 'Passion and Requiem' - where the choir performed to a sold out Malmesbury Abbey. The concert compromised of two French composers, César Franck and Gabriel Fauré, with two Latin works - "Les Sept Paroles du Christ en Croix" and "Requiem" respectively. Accompanied by a small chamber ensemble, the arrangements were written by Thomas Mottershead (2024) and David Hill (2012).
The Malmesbury Singers rehearse on Monday evening's from 7:30-9:15pm at Malmesbury Abbey. If you would like more information on joining the choir, please click the link below to get in touch with the choir and Membership Secretary.
Malmesbury Abbey, Abbey Row, Malmesbury, England SN16 0BW, United Kingdom
Thomas Mottershead recently had the pleasure of working with the world-renowned composer Bob Chilcott during a Come and Sing Day in Warminster. Thomas will be conducting his 'St John Passion', worked on during the Day, on 23rd March 2024 with The Athenaeum Singers and British Sinfonietta Ensemble.