royal leamington spa bach choir

Choir founded in 1939                                                                   Registered Charity No. 506586

Stanley Vann - centre (arms folded) and his wife Frances (on his left)

History of the Choir

John Tomlinson, Colin Druce & Nigel Stark with the Choir at the Royal Spa Centre

The Royal Leamington Spa Bach Choir was founded in November 1939 by Dr Stanley Vann, who conducted its first concert, a performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion in the spring of 1940. Stanley Vann, whose distinguished career continued through to his death in 2010, was succeeded by a distinguished array of conductors and the Choir's repertoire has covered a wide selection of choral works, ranging from the classical, baroque and romantic period to music of the twentieth century.  For a biography of our founder go to www.stanleyvannmusic.org.uk .

In March 2000, the Bach Choir celebrated its Diamond Jubilee with a triumphant concert that included one of the great English choral works, A Sea Symphony, composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams, who was appointed the first Patron and President of the Choir in 1940.

In recent years, under the batons of Malcolm Goldring and Janet Lincé and more recently under the leadership of current musical director and conductor Nigel Stark, the Choir has continued to expand its repertoire with a variety of works by classical & modern composers.

The Bach Choir has worked with a number of local orchestras and has frequently been accompanied in concerts by one or more exciting soloists who may be drawn from the Birmingham Conservatoire or further afield.  We are also extremely fortunate to be supported in our practices and concerts by Colin Druce, professional pianist & organist.

In 2007, a highlight for the Choir was to share a stage with the world-famous opera star Sir John Tomlinson in the Mayor's Charity Concert at the Royal Spa Centre in Leamington Spa.  The programme included popular opera choruses and arias performed impeccably by one of the world's foremost Wagnerian soloists.

As a tribute to the choir's founder, the summer concert of "Contemporary International Classics" in 2010 was dedicated to the memory of Dr Stanley Vann.

The Choir usually performs four concerts a year at local venues, but in recent years has also staged concerts in Tewkesbury Abbey, Southwell Minster, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Gloucester Cathedral and Portsmouth Guildhall.  In Europe the Choir has performed in Bruges, Ghent, and Paris. 

It was with great pleasure that the Choir commenced the 2009-2010 season with a spectacular joint performance of Verdi's Requiem in conjunction with the Portsmouth Choral Union, led in Portsmouth by Jonathan Willcocks and at Leamington Spa by Nigel Stark.

The Bach Choir aims to give performances of a high musical standard and to engage our audiences through a varied and interesting programme. We believe that making music should be fun and a source of new friendships, so we are always delighted to welcome new faces to our choir and audience as friends, patrons and singing members.