History of the Chorus

King's Lynn Festival Chorus is the resident choir for one of the UK's most prestigious
music festivals. The Chorus was originally formed in 1977 for an inaugural concert
conducted by Christopher Hogwood. For a period its links with the festival were
dropped but in 2001 its festival links were rekindled when Michael Kibblewhite was
appointed Music Director.

As well as singing during the Festival each year (works have included Mozart's
Requiem and Great C Minor Mass, Haydn's Missa in Augustiis, Vivaldi's Gloria and Orff's
Carmina Burana), the Festival Chorus' growing repertoire includes secular music and it
performs other concerts throughout the year to large audiences. It is rapidly becoming
established as one of the UK's most talented and dynamic community choirs. Several
of these concerts are performed in the stunningly beautiful St Nicholas Chapel, whose
size (the largest "chapel of ease" in England) and outstanding acoustics lend
themselves to large-scale concerts. This was where the Chorus chose to recorded their
debut CD in October 2006, extracts of which were featured on BBC Radio 3's
programme 'The Choir', hosted by Aled Jones, to great acclaim The Chorus performs up
to 7 concerts a year around the County and abroad and and has also begun performing
in Norwich once a year.

2007 saw the debut tour to Southern Spain where the Chorus were honoured to sing in
the Mezquita in Cordoba at the personal invitation of the Bishop of Cordoba. In 2008
the Chorus headed for Italy and sang in the Monastery of St Francis at Assisi as part of
a 3-concert tour to Umbria. In 2009 the Chorus returned to Italy, singing in St. Mark's in
Venice, as well as other stunning venues in Padua, Verona and Montegrotto.

The 120 members of the Festival Chorus come from a wide area of Norfolk and
adjoining counties, and anyone able to display a basic vocal talent and a willingness to
learn is welcome to come along to try us out, although full entry to the chorus is by
audition only.