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The Southend Boys’ Choir was formed in 1970, and is one of the best known in the UK. The choir has performed with major orchestras, including RPO, LSO, Philharmonia, City of London Sinfonia, BBC SO, and has made many highly acclaimed recordings.
The choir has sung under some of the world’s greatest conductors, including Addado, Muti, Mehta, Sinopoli, Tilson Thomas, Rostropovitch, Sir David Willcocks, Sir Colin Davis, and Richard Hickox. Richard Hickox is the choir’s president, in succession to Benjamin Britten and Sir Peter Pears.
The Southend Boys’ Choir performs regularly in the major London concert venues, in addition to performances in Europe, including Ypres Cathedral, Peronne, Amiens, Paris and Poland. Recent concerts include performances of Carmina Burana at the Royal Albert Hall, Tosca, Berlioz Te Deum, Britten’s War Requiem and Spring Symphony, in addition to performances in the BBC Proms Series in 2000, 2001 and 2003.
The choir consists of 80 boys aged 8 upwards from Southend and surrounding areas, who audition for their places in the choir. In 2003 the choir was successful in gaining financial support from National Foundation for Youth Music, to develop a programme of singing workshops across Southend called Sing 4 Life, involving many young people in the area. One of the outcomes of the project was the formation of the Southend Boys’ and Girls’ Training Choir. The two choirs join together for a number of concerts each year, when senior members of both choirs work on specialised repertoire for performances and recordings.
The choirs made a recording with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2000, have performed at the Royal Albert Hall for the past 4 years, and in 2000 made a commercial CD entitled Angelis – Voices of Angels, which received major coverage on national radio stations. The choirs’ second CD Angelis A Christmas Blessing, released in December 2003, also received high critical acclaim. Other commercial recordings have also been made by the choirs.
The choirs' diversity shows them recording backing vocals for pop songs for Warner Bros, performing in the Crypt of the House of Commons, singing in performances of 'Nutcracker' Ballet, and performing at the launch of the liner “Millennium” in Southampton.
Jointly the choirs perform for Music Clubs and festivals around the country.
In 2003, the two choirs performed in American composer John Adams’ 'On the transmigration of Souls' at the internationally acclaimed BBC Proms Concert Series at the Royal Albert Hall, which was broadcast live on BBC TV and Radio. The Boys’ Choir also made a concert tour to Paris, where they performed in major Churches and also in Disneyland.
In 2004 the Boys’ Choir took part in performances of Verdi’s “Tosca” with Opera and Ballet International, sung at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and St Martin in the Fields, and they also joined with the Southend Girls’ Choir in a 2 week concert tour of America. Some boys in the choir took part in performances at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, with British Youth Opera.
In 2005 the Choir made a concert tour to Poland, where they performed in Gdansk and Sopot, took part in performances of St Matthew Passion, War Requiem, made a commercial recording and sang at the Royal Albert Hall and other London venues throughout the year. In 2006 the choir will once again perform in London in a major Festival, and in Canterbury Cathedral, and will make a 14 day concert tour to Florida.
Both choirs are supported by Southend Borough Council.
'The heavenly voices of the Southend Boys' Choir.' Daily Telegraph
'The singers made an impressive sight and sound.'
'The crisp Southend Boys' Choir made a healthy descant.'
'Especially poignant was the Southend Boys' Choir in the Gallery. A sorrowful purity informed their Chorister Chant.' Evening Standard.
'Overwhelming fusion of physical impact and emotional power.' The Independent
'I have never in years heard such fantastically clear diction from any Choir.' The Guardian
'The brightest singing of the Southend Boys' Choir is among the best on any recording.' The Gramophone
For more information on the Southend Boys' Choir, please contact:
Musical Director - Southend Boys' Choir
PO Box 6
Civic Centre
Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
Essex
SS2 6ER
Tel. 01702 215623
Southend Choirs Website
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