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| Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir | |
|---|---|
| Choir | |
| Origin | North East Derbyshire, England |
| Founded | 1924 |
| Genre | Choral music |
| Music director | Steven Roberts |
| Website | chestphilchoir.org.uk |
Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir
[edit]The Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir is a mixed-voice amateur choir based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. Founded in 1924, the choir is one of the longest-established choral societies in the East Midlands and performs a wide repertoire ranging from large-scale oratorios and sacred music to contemporary choral works, opera choruses, and seasonal concerts.
The choir performs at churches and concert venues across Derbyshire and northern England. Since 2024, it has celebrated more than 100 years of continuous music-making.
The choir currently has around 80 singing members, and is actively looking for more.
History
[edit]Foundation in Grassmoor (1924–1961)
[edit]The origins of the Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir can be traced to April 1924, when a meeting in the Derbyshire mining village of Grassmoor led to the formation of the Grassmoor Musical Union. Early performances included choral excerpts from Handel's Messiah, although the organisation struggled during the economic difficulties of the 1920s and 1930s.
The society was revived in 1944 and re-established as a permanent musical organisation. Members paid a subscription fee and purchased their own music. In 1945 the ensemble adopted the name Grassmoor Choral Union, and in 1949 performed with an orchestra for the first time.
During the 1950s the choir participated successfully in regional music festivals, including winning the Rosebowl Trophy at the Macclesfield Festival for the most artistic performance in the senior choral section.
Development and Move to Chesterfield (1959–1967)
[edit]A significant turning point occurred in 1959 when Colin Wheatley, who had been associated with the choir since childhood, became conductor. Under his leadership the organisation expanded its ambitions and profile.
The choir gave its first performances at the Civic Theatre in Chesterfield and, in 1961, transferred its rehearsals from Grassmoor to Chesterfield. Reflecting its broader geographical reach, the choir adopted the name Chesterfield and District Choral Union.
In September 1963 the choir performed Mozart's Requiem in the Chesterfield Parish Church (the "Crooked Spire"), the first occasion members sang a complete major work in Latin.
Membership increased steadily during the 1960s, aided by the growth of Chesterfield and the arrival of new residents in the town. Plans were developed to establish an accompanying orchestra, and on 27 April 1967 the choir and orchestra formally adopted the title Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra. The organisation has retained the name Chesterfield Philharmonic ever since. Although the Choir and Orchestra are now separate and under different batons they maintain a collaborative relationship.
The first concert under the new title was a performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor in October 1967 at Chesterfield Parish Church.
President
[edit]In October 2024 Jonathan Scott, leading British organist, agreed to be the President of the Choir. He has a long association with the choir in performance.
Musical Directors
[edit]The following is a list of musical directors since 1924.
| Year | Musical Director | Notes |
| 1924 | Mr H W James | |
| 1944 | Mr G Radford | |
| 1955 | Mr J James | |
| 1955 | Mr W Bainbridge | |
| 1958 | Mr F Dawson | |
| 1959 | Mr Colin M Wheatley | |
| 1966 | Mrs Doreen Shand | Deputy |
| 1970 | Mr Joe Clark | |
| 1970/2 | Mr David E Windle | Joint MD |
| 1980 | Mr John Gavaghan | |
| 1981 | Mr Colin M Wheatley | |
| 1986 | Mr Joe Clark | |
| 1988 | Mr Philip Hanwell | Deputy |
| 1996 | Mr Steven Roberts |
Colin Wheatley
[edit]Colin Wheatley first sang with the Grassmoor Choral Union as a boy soprano in 1944. He became conductor in 1959 and oversaw the transformation of the choir from a village-based choral society into a larger regional organisation centred on Chesterfield. During his tenure the choir moved its rehearsals to Chesterfield, adopted successive new names, established regular orchestral collaborations, and developed a reputation for performing major works from the choral repertoire.
Joe Clark
[edit]Under Joe Clark's leadership and tutelage the choir strengthened its abilities and widened its repertoire.
Steven Roberts
[edit]In January 1996 the choir appointed Steven Roberts as Musical Director. Under his leadership the choir further broadened its repertoire, strengthened collaborations with professional soloists and orchestras, and expanded its concert activities beyond Derbyshire.
Steven Roberts introduced annual Choral Days from 1998, attracting singers from across the United Kingdom, and guided the choir through its centenary celebrations in 2024. During the COVID-19 pandemic he maintained choir activities through online rehearsals and a series of communications known as the "Corona Chronicles", helping sustain membership and morale during the suspension of live performances.
By 2024 Steven Roberts had conducted more than one hundred concerts with the choir and had become the longest-serving musical director in its history.
Repertoire
[edit]The choir performs a broad range of music spanning over a millennium of musical history. Its repertoire includes:
- Baroque works by composers such as Bach, Handel and Vivaldi
- Classical works by Haydn, Mozart[1] and Beethoven
- Romantic choral music by Brahms, Mendelssohn and Elgar
- Twentieth- and twenty-first-century works by John Rutter, Karl Jenkins, Ola Gjeilo, Eric Whitacre, Bob Chilcott and Will Todd
- Opera choruses and arrangements
- Christmas concerts and community carol service[2]
Performances of Handel's Messiah have formed a notable part of the choir's history, with the 2018 performance representing the thirty-fifth presentation of the work by the society since 1946.
Collaborations
[edit]The choir has collaborated with a variety of musical organisations and performers, including:
- Derbyshire Sinfonia
- Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra
- Honley Male Voice Choir
- Altrincham Choral Society
- Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band
- MusicWork Vocal Ensemble
- Chesterfield Parish Church Choir
- Nottingham Brass Quintet
- Peter Bixby Mixed Metals Ensemble
- Sospire Wind Quintet
The choir also performs alongside professional soloists, notably soprano Lesley Garrett, who first appeared with the choir in 1979 and returned in 2018 and 2019 for anniversary performances. Local school choirs are regularly invited as guests to sing at Christmas Concerts.
Organists and guest musicians associated with the choir have included Jonathan Scott, Paul Nash, Paul Provost, Thomas Moore and Gordon Truman.
COVID-19 Pandemic
[edit]Like many choral organisations, the Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir suspended rehearsals and concerts during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Planned performances, including major choral works and community events, were cancelled or postponed.
To maintain contact among members, the choir adopted online rehearsals using Zoom and received weekly messages from musical director Steven Roberts, known as the "Corona Chronicles" and later the "Blog". These communications combined musical commentary, news and personal reflections and became an important means of sustaining choir morale during lockdown periods.
The choir is very conscious of the benefits to physical and mental health of choral singing and choir membership and the social element is an important part of its ethos.
The choir resumed in-person rehearsals in 2021 and marked its return with the concert Hear Our Song, supporting Ashgate Hospice.
Residence and Community Role
[edit]The choir has a long-standing association with the Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints, Chesterfield, popularly known as the "Crooked Spire". In 2022 the choir became recognised as a Concert Choir in Residence at the church, strengthening its role in the cultural life of the town.
As a registered charity, the choir supports community music-making and frequently undertakes fundraising activities through concerts and annual choral days, benefiting charities including Brain Tumour Research, Neurocare Sheffield, Ashgate Hospice and the Royal British Legion.
Centenary
[edit]The choir celebrated its centenary in 2024 with a programme of commemorative events and concerts. The principal centenary concert, The Dreamers of Dreams, reflected on the choir's hundred-year history and featured works associated with its long-standing repertoire and traditions.
The centenary celebrations recognised generations of singers, conductors, accompanists and volunteers who had contributed to the organisation since its foundation in 1924.[3]
Notable Concerts
[edit]- Xmas 77 & 78 Messiah recorded and played by Radio Hallam
- 1988 - First Choral Day -- Fauré's Requiem
- 1996 - Carmina Burana (Orff)
- 1997 - Premiere of Peter Birkby’s 2nd percussion concerto, played by the composer
- 1999 - British Premiere of Frigyes Hidas' Requiem
- (Many, too numerous!)
- 2014 – Roquiem by Paul Barker at the Choral Day
- 2017 – Golden Anniversary Concert
- 2018 – Performance with Lesley Garrett at Huddersfield Town Hall.
- 2018 – Thirty-fifth performance of Handel's Messiah by the choir.
- 2018 -- Premiere of Debra Page’s High Flight
- 2019 – Viva la Diva! concert celebrating forty years since Lesley Garrett's first appearance with the choir[4].[5]
- 2021 – Hear Our Song, the choir's first major concert following pandemic restrictions.
- 2023 – Concert with Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band at the Winding Wheel Theatre, Chesterfield.
- 2024 – Centenary concert, The Dreamers of Dreams.[6]
- 2025 -- Rossini Petit Messe Solennelle
- 2026 - Mozart’s Requiem paired with Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living.[7] An audience comment: "We came for the Mozart and left with the Forrest."
See also
[edit]- Choral society
- Music in Derbyshire
- St Mary and All Saints Church, Chesterfield
External links
[edit]Sources
[edit]The main source for the information is For Those Who Sing and For Those Who Sing On, histories of the choir by Tony Hallam, long serving choir member, secretary and archivist.
References
[edit]- ^ "Hear great works by Bach and Mozart performed by Chesterfield Crooked Spire's concert choir in residence". Derbyshire Times. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ^ English Heritage (2019-12-16). Traditional Christmas Carols From Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire. Retrieved 2026-07-03 – via YouTube.
- ^ Magazine, Reflections (2024-05-29). "A century of choral singing in and around Chesterfield". Reflections Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ^ Magazine, Reflections (2019-05-01). "Forty years on, Lesley's coming back!". Reflections Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ^ "Singing star Lesley Garrett's reunion concert with The Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir after 40 years". Derbyshire Times. 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ^ "Chesterfield choir launches centenary year with open invitation to members of the public to enjoy singing". Derbyshire Times. 2024-01-01. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- ^ "Requiems are on the programmes for Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir's concerts in two churches". Derbyshire Times. 2026-04-06. Retrieved 2026-06-05.