With over 100 members, the Northampton Bach Choir is proud to be the largest choir in the region.
Our very first concert was in 1936 at St Matthew's Church, Northampton, home of artwork by Henry Moore and Graham
Sutherland, and première performances of works by Benjamin Britten, Gerald Finzi, Herbert Howells and Michael Tippett.
We continue to consider St Matthew’s as the home of the choir but do now perform at other local venues including Cripps Hall,
Spinney Theatre, Christ Church and The Derngate.
We welcome new members and hold open rehearsals at the start of each term so that those who are interested can take part
with no commitment and then decide if they would like to audition. We do accept applications from children, aged ten and
over, providing they are familiar with following a line in printed music and are accompanied at every rehearsal and
performance by a parent/guardian.
We are an auditioned choir and if having attended an open rehearsal you decide to join, you will be asked to attend a
short audition. The principal purpose of the voice test is for the Musical Director to determine your vocal suitability for
joining the choir and advise on the voice part most suited to your range. Please contact the membership secretary via
the form on our 'contact us' page if you have any further queries.
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The choir’s season starts in September and goes through to the final concert in June of the following year.
Rehearsals take place on Monday evenings from 7;30pm to 9:30pm and are usually at All Saints CofE Primary School, Boughton Green Road,
Kingsthorpe, Northampton, NN2 7AJ. The school is best accessed by car and has plenty of parking at the front and back. Enter through the
main entrance to the school and head to the school hall which is at the end of the corridor to the left as you come in. On some occasions
we may use other venues, and details will be circulated in advance. There are usually additional rehearsals before a concert. Details of
extra rehearsals and changes of venue will be circulated in advance and posted in the members area of the website.
There is a 10-15 minute break in each rehearsal for a chance to catch up with fellow members, and for any notices to be given out.
There are no fixed seating arrangements - members take the first available seat usually arranged in voice parts. This can vary from concert
to concert, and sometimes week to week, depending on the works being rehearsed. You will be introduced to your voice part representative –
they are who you should contact with any questions or if you are unable to make a rehearsal.
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Choir rehearsals include preparation for concerts, training with regard to developing vocal technique and learning about the
context of the repertoire. Membership subscriptions also include paying the Musical Director and Répétiteur, and the hire of
rehearsal and performance venues. The cost of subscriptions is presented at the Annual General Meeting and is based on balancing
the budget for the coming year. There are three levels of subscription rate depending on your personal circumstances; the full
rate for the current season is £175 (including hire copies of all music), with concessions for students. Please
contact the membership secretary for further details.
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For most of the music we perform you will have the option either to purchase the scores or have a loan copy from the Librarian.
There is the odd occasion when either one option or the other cannot be offered but this is rare.
The choir has concert folders which are also available on loan from the Librarian.
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Our main concerts always take place in Northampton. We have performed at The Derngate,
The Cripps Hall Theatre (Northampton School for Boys), Spinney Theatre (Northampton
School for Girls ) and our original home St Matthew's Church on the Kettering Road
(NN1 4RY).
Unlike many choirs we do not require our members to purchase a minimum number of
tickets for each concert. Nevertheless, we rely on choir members to promote our
concerts, and encourage friends and relatives to attend.
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In order to maintain consistently high standards, members
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must attend a minimum number of rehearsals to be eligible to participate in a concert - this will vary from concert to concert. |
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adhere to the agreed concert dress code for each concert. |
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abide by the rules and act in accordance with the Choir's Constitution. |
In return, members will:
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sing in four concerts a year with dynamic programmes, performing alongside professional musicians and singers of the highest calibre. |
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have the opportunity to participate in other special events to which the choir (in part or whole) is invited, such as joint concerts, cathedral visits, foreign tours and recordings. |
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receive excellent vocal and musical tuition at rehearsals. |
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be able to join other members in various social events organised during the year. |
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