We are a friendly, non-auditioned choir that  generally performs 4 concerts to a high standard each year in Royston and the surrounding villages. Our musical director is Andrew O'Brien and he is assisted by Jonathan Lilley. 

Formed in 1973 we have been celebrating our first 50 years over the last couple of seasons and are now looking forward to our next 50 years of music making in the area. The choir numbers nearly 100 singers.

We engage fine professional soloists for our major concerts and are able to call on an excellent pool of orchestral players. 

In the coming season we are looking to perform some of the classics of the choral repertoire along with some lesser-known works. In November our first concert will combine Fauré's sublime Requiem, with Parry's Blest pair of sirens, and Britten's wonderfully whimsical Rejoice in the Lamb.

It is 100 years since the death of French composer Gabriel Fauré and, as a tribute, we will be singing the best-known and loved of his large works. Rejoice in the Lamb is one of Britten’s most popular works. This is a setting of words by Christopher Smart, written whilst he was in an asylum. The poem depicts idiosyncratic praise and worship of God by different things including animals, letters of the alphabet and musical instruments. The work is renowned for its uniqueness and incredible text setting. View the concert poster by following this link https://www.roystonchoralsoc.org.uk/future-dates  Tickets can be purchased at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/royston-choral-society 

Our Christmas concert will as usual be a mixture of Christmas music sung by the choir, combined with well-known carols for everyone to join in - all accompanied by organ and brass who will include some festive interludes of their own.

In recent years we have performed two of Bach's momentous choral works - the St John Passion and Mass in B minor. This year we turn our attention to the wonderful St Matthew Passion which will be performed with first class soloists and orchestra at the beginning of April 2025. One of the greatest choral works, from the sounding of its first e minor chord, a dramatic and heart wrenching musical journey ensues. The chorus is central to the drama and sets the mood throughout.

Our final concert this season will be in early July 2025. The programme will be announced in due course.

We enjoyed excellent audiences in our most recent season with two of the concerts being sold out. We hope to continue that pattern and so early purchase of tickets is advised!

There are some videos of parts of some of our recent concerts available by following this link.

For more information about the society please contact the chair - Huw Jenkins (email: [email protected] or tel: 07855 311192)