Goring Chamber Choir
Goring Chamber Choir will mark its 75th anniversary with an exceptional concert at Douai Abbey on Saturday 16th May at 7:30pm, centred on the Magnificat—Mary's own song of joy and thanksgiving.
“Just as the Magnificat is Mary's song of celebration, this concert is our magnificat—our song of gratitude for 75 years of singing together,” says musical director Frances Brewitt-Taylor.
The choir tackles Bach's magnificent and powerful Magnificat—a major undertaking last performed by the ensemble in 1995. With its highly demanding chorus parts and exquisite orchestral scoring, Bach's masterwork captures everything from explosive joy to tender beauty in Mary's famous canticle.
The celebration continues with the Durante Magnificat (formerly attributed to Pergolesi), sharing Bach's joyful atmosphere, and Mozart's charming offertory motet Alma Dei creatoris. Taking advantage of Douai Abbey's magnificent acoustic, the choir will also perform six contrasting unaccompanied motets by Bruckner, Britten, Timothy Blinko, Frank Ferko, John Tavener, and Pierre Villette—each exploring different aspects of Mary's life in an ecstatic range of sound worlds.
“This will be an evening of great vitality, joyfulness and variety,” says Brewitt-Taylor. The choir will be accompanied by Oxford's professional baroque orchestra Charivari Agrèable, directed by Kah-Ming Ng, and joined by four highly accomplished young soloists.
Tickets are £20 and will be available from tickets@goringchamberchoir.org.uk, Inspiration (Goring), Garlands Organic (Pangbourne) or from any choir member.
| 2026 | Saturday, 16th May | Concert with Charivari Agréable at Douai Abbey |
|---|---|
| 13th – 16thAugust | Services at Lincoln Cathedral |
| 2027 | |
| 12th – 15thAugust | Services at Gloucester Cathedral |
Based in Goring-on-Thames, our choir draws members from around South Oxfordshire and Berkshire. We sing all year round, giving concerts in Spring, Autumn and at Christmas. Our repertoire ranges from the Classical through traditional to contemporary music. While our concerts always have familiar and popular pieces, we enjoy exploring new or lesser-known works — it keeps our programme fresh.
We are looking for tenor voices to join our choir. If you'd like to become a member, contact us and come to a few of our rehearsals on Thursday evenings — you can join in and see how it feels. If you want to go ahead, you'll audition with our Musical Director. Our singers must be able to read sheet music, as we don't learn by ear, but we're not all polished sight-readers.
A collection of pieces from Goring Chamber Choir's broad repertoire of sacred and secular works, from Haydn and Mozart to Gershwin and Rodgers. On the way, we visit the great Victorian and Edwardian church composers, some traditional folk songs and a barber shop number.Full details
The choir at Christmas. Plainsong and medieval carols rub shoulders with contemporary Christmas music from around the world, and new settings cast fresh light on ancient and mystic texts.Full details
This collection explores the many facets of love: from youthful desire through religious passion, love in adversity, the intertwining of souls, to separation and loss.Full details
Goring Chamber Choir CIO
Registered charity No 1207153
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