A Brief History ....
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2002: The choir welcomed Paul Colman as music director and his first concert was celebratory music for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Year. The year was also notable as members voted to change the name from Brockenhurst Village Choir to THE BROCKENHURST CHOIR.
2004: The choir celebrated its 40th anniversary with a performance of Mendelssohn’s ‘Elijah’ – a special guest for the evening was Jane Fish the choir’s director 1973-1994. The following year the choir performed Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man’ to much acclaim.
2007: In December, the choir held its 100th concert and over the next few years the choir’s repertoire was further enhanced under Paul’s baton with performances of ‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’ by Coleridge Taylor, Lambert’s ‘Rio Grande’ and a performance of the Missa Luba African mass.
2010: On Paul’s departure, Miriam Newton was appointed director of music continuing the tradition of expert musicianship which the choir had enjoyed since its inception. Her debut concert with us was Handel’s ‘Messiah’ followed by programmes of challenging and exciting works from Bach’s ‘Mass in B Minor’ to opera choruses.
2014: The complex ‘Israel in Egypt’ by Handel was chosen to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the choir in preparation for which Miriam organised a master workshop with renowned authority Will Dawes. This was the first of several workshops
2015: Neil Ferris covered Rossini’s ‘Petite Mess Solenelle’
2018: Joanna Tomlinson gave a masterclass on Vaughan Williams’ ‘Sea Symphony’ which the choir performed in conjunction with Total Voice Chamber Choir and Westbourne Orchestra at St. Ambrose Church, Westbourne.
2019: A Brahms’ ‘German Requiem’ workshop was held with Max Barley. The final performance was in conjunction with Ian Farrington’s excellent Chamber Orchestra, enabling a mainstream 19th century work to be tackled with orchestral accompaniment. For Miriam’s farewell concert on November 30th she selected a mixed programme of music for Advent including Rutter’s ‘Gloria’ and Parry’s ‘Blessed Pair of Sirens’. The Kneller Brass Ensemble added to an evening of fanfare, quality singing and audience enjoyment befitting the end of her tenure and undoubted contribution to the success of the Brockenhurst Choir.
2020: The choir welcomed Craig Lawton as their new music director. Rehearsals had just begun for the Spring concert and then came the disruption of the pandemic, Covid-19, with all choir activities throughout the country prohibited. The choir did not resume rehearsals until late 2021. Craig’s first concert as our new music director was therefore not until 4th December with a concert of Music for Christmas.
2022: Alex Eadon appointed as Music Director in October 2022. Alex's first concert will include the Mozart Requiem.
2023: Matthew Kelley appointed as Choir Accompanist. Matthew replaces Nicola Hargreave, our much loved accompanist of recent years.
Details of all concerts performed by the Brockenhurst Choir are available on the website.
Updated September 2023