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N
orthampton Bach Choir has a membership in excess of 100 singers. We perform at least four major concerts per year. These are in November, March and usually June with an annual ‘Carols for Christmas‘ concert on the nearest practicable Saturday to Christmas.
We have a long association with St. Matthew's Church, Kettering Road, Northampton as our concert venue. We rehearse on Monday evenings 7.45 - 9.45pm at Northampton High School.
In recognition of our status as the leading large choir in the area, we receive invitations to sing in the Royal & Derngate, including performances with their orchestra in residence, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Northampton Bach Choir is one of the foremost choruses in the region, and
the largest choir in the county, numbering over 130 singers. It owes its
formation to Denys Pouncey, then organist of St Matthew’s Church, Northampton,
giving its first concert there on Palm Sunday 1935. During its time it has
nurtured a series of young, enthusiastic, not to say visionary, musical
directors, many of whom have gone on to forge careers of national and
international significance.
Stephen Meakins is one of the UK’s busiest young accompanists. Born in Northampton in 1987, his formative musical education began as Organ Scholar at All Saints’ Church, Northampton, where he is delighted to continue a working relationship with its musicians to this date. Subsequently, Stephen held the Scholarship at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, Australia.
St. Matthew’s Church, Northampton, is a Victorian Church built in French 13th century gothic style. It was consecrated on St. Matthew’s day in 1893 and the first vicar was John Rowden Hussey. He remained vicar until 1937 when his son Walter Hussey was invited to succeed him. Walter Hussey was driven by the desire to build a bridge between the Church and modern artists through adventurous commissions.
Lee Dunleavy’s life-long passion for choral music began at St Peter’s Church in
Harrogate, where he served as Organ Scholar and worked alongside the
distinguished composer Philip Wilby in a number of premières. He read Music at
Hertford College, in the University of Oxford, as Organ Scholar and later
Director of Chapel Music. As Manager and member of the Oxford University
Orchestra, he worked with such esteemed conductors as Douglas Boyd,Peter Stark,
Garry Walker and Sir Roger Norrington.