About us

Founded in 1997, The Cotswold Children’s Choir meets every Saturday in the Cotswold town of Burford. Its members are boys and girls aged 7-18, and the choir is arranged into junior, senior and chamber sections. It is open to all and there are no auditions. Drawing on an eclectic repertoire from across the musical spectrum, the children learn vocal technique, movement and musicianship. They are encouraged to love music and perform to a high degree of musical excellence.

The combination of encouragement and discipline, and the warm and supportive atmosphere, helps children to build confidence in their musical and performing skills. Many parents find that the increased general confidence and self-belief spills over into other areas of their children’s lives. Other former members of the choir are now beginning to make their way in the world of professional music. For most however, the choir offers the chance to participate in choral music of a very high standard whilst enjoying the sheer fun of singing.

The choir gives public concerts each term and is also involved in performing with other choirs and musicians, both locally and nationally. The choir recently performed Richard Blackford's Mirror of Perfection with the Burford Singers, under Brian Kay, as the most recent of a number of collaborations which have included Gershwin's Porgy & Bess, and Chilcott's Jubilate. The choir gives concerts regularly at venues around the Cotswolds, and will compete this year in both the National Festival of Youth and the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year Competition. In its ten year history, notable experiences for members include working with the composer to record Chilcott's Spells and The Elements, working with Sir Philip Ledger, leading, in 2000, three staged memorable community performances of Britten’s Noye’s Fludde and participating in a recording of BBC’s Dalziel and Pascoe. In 2004, both the Senior Choir and the Chamber Choir were selected to perform in the National Festival of Music for Youth in the Royal Festival and Queen Elizabeth Halls. The choir has made two recordings, Spells in 2004 which consists of music by Bob Chilcott and "The Burford Ballads" in 2005 with music by Sir Philip Ledger and words by Christopher Yates.

Grant aided by West Oxfordshire District Council -www.westoxon.gov.uk

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