ORLANDO CHAMBER CHOIR

Orlando Chamber Choir is a small and friendly London choir which performs regularly in Central London venues. While specialising in Renaissance and Baroque music the choir has succeeded in building a varied repertoire stretching over five centuries - including a cappella music and more ambitious works in co-operation with professional soloists and instrumentalists.

The choir consists of about 30 enthusiastic amateur musicians. Most have had singing lessons or vocal training and many perform with other choirs as well. The experience and ambition of the singers allows Orlando Chamber Choir to concentrate on musical interpretation and vocal technique to ensure performances that are more than just note perfect.

Orlando Chamber Choir has had the privilege of working with three outstanding musical directors since it was founded in 1994: Brian Gordon, Edward Wickham and, currently, James Weeks. It is thanks to their musical expertise and vocal techniques that the choir has developed its rich and distinctive sound. This trend is set to continue with James' commission for Orlando Chamber Choir, due for completion early 2011 - see below for further details.

The choir promotes at least three major concerts each year, often performing in St James's Piccadilly. Highlights up to now have included Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with Brian Gordon, Buxtehude's Membra Jesu Nostri with Edward Wickham and, in November 2009, a triumphant performance of music by Purcell and Blow directed by James Weeks and entitled Orpheus Britannicus. Apart from these major concerts Orlando Chamber Choir regularly promotes smaller projects such as Christmas Carol concerts and choral workshops in the UK or abroad.

James Weeks is currently writing a commission for Orlando Chamber Choir entitled Orlando Tenebrae. Its world premiere is planned for March 2011 in a programme that will also feature works by the choir's "patron composer" Orlando di Lasso. A first motet of the Orlando Tenebrae called Ecce quomodo moritur justus was completed and performed in the summer of 2010.

The Orlando Chamber Choir wishes to thank the Choral Ambition Scheme of the BBC Performing Arts Fund for its generous support of the Orlando Tenebrae commission in the form of a grant for the 2010 motet.

The Orlando Chamber Choir is a registered charity (no. 1059881).