The Choir at Hoddinott Hall, WMC 2017
The Choir was formed in 1962 by Clifford Bunford. Originally a choir of around 25 singers, in recent times between 50 to 60 choristers regularly take to the performance platform. During the 1980’s the choir expanded to allow performances of the larger works and oratorios and has since given performances of all the major choral works, sometimes jointly with other local choirs. During its many successful seasons the choir has performed most of Bach's cantatas and the great choral passions. When Cliff retired in 2003 his place was taken by Dr Tim Taylor who conducted the choir until his retirement in 2015 when Mr. Luke Spencer was appointed the choir’s musical director.
The Choir has performed with well-known international and local soloists including Kate Woolveridge, Angharad Morgan and Paul Carey Jones, Sioned Gwen Davies to name a few. Over the years we have encouraged up and coming young singers from Cardiff University (DMCU) and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) many of whom are now well known in the field of opera and in the concert hall.
The Choir is twinned with Stuttgarter Oratorienchor (SO) and in December 2015 Cardiff Bach Choir visited Stuttgart and sang with Stuttgarter Oratorienchor in the Liederhalle to an audience of some 1500 people in a concert which featured the work of JS Bach and John Rutter. The German Choir came to Cardiff in May and joined Cardiff Bach at Llandaff Cathedral in a much acclaimed programme featuring all Welsh modern composers. The programme featured a rare performance of Grace Williams Ave Maris Stella together with William Matthias Let the People Praise Thee and Karl Jenkins Stabat Mater.
The choir has developed links with Luke’s other choirs in Swansea and in December 2016 gave a very memorable performance of the Messiah with Morriston Tabernacle Choir (MTC) in the wonderful Victorian chapel, the home of the Tabernacle Choir. We are looking to develop links with other Bach Choirs around the country with a view to future joint performances.
While we continue to explore new avenues, and develop exciting programmes, now under the baton of Stephen Moore, with programmes including 20th century composers, we are not forgetting our original aims and the work of Bach and his contemporaries will continue to feature regularly in our programmes.
The Choir has performed with well-known international and local soloists including Kate Woolveridge, Angharad Morgan and Paul Carey Jones, Sioned Gwen Davies to name a few. Over the years we have encouraged up and coming young singers from Cardiff University (DMCU) and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) many of whom are now well known in the field of opera and in the concert hall.
The Choir is twinned with Stuttgarter Oratorienchor (SO) and in December 2015 Cardiff Bach Choir visited Stuttgart and sang with Stuttgarter Oratorienchor in the Liederhalle to an audience of some 1500 people in a concert which featured the work of JS Bach and John Rutter. The German Choir came to Cardiff in May and joined Cardiff Bach at Llandaff Cathedral in a much acclaimed programme featuring all Welsh modern composers. The programme featured a rare performance of Grace Williams Ave Maris Stella together with William Matthias Let the People Praise Thee and Karl Jenkins Stabat Mater.
The choir has developed links with Luke’s other choirs in Swansea and in December 2016 gave a very memorable performance of the Messiah with Morriston Tabernacle Choir (MTC) in the wonderful Victorian chapel, the home of the Tabernacle Choir. We are looking to develop links with other Bach Choirs around the country with a view to future joint performances.
While we continue to explore new avenues, and develop exciting programmes, now under the baton of Stephen Moore, with programmes including 20th century composers, we are not forgetting our original aims and the work of Bach and his contemporaries will continue to feature regularly in our programmes.