Alumni choir | Guildhall School of Music & Drama

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During my time here, I organised an international conference based around my subject involving delegates from 4 continents

Emily Baines
DMus, ‘Mechanical Musical Instruments as a Source for Historical Performance’

The research community at Guildhall is a really interesting place to be

Stefania Donini
PhD

I found it very beneficial to take a break from a busy teaching career to think and reflect on my teaching value, principle and strategies

Yushan Li
PGCert Performance Teaching

Studying at Guildhall is really cool because you are in a setting where the arts are valued by an entire community

Natasha Mbwana
BA Performance & Creative Enterprise

The projects we work on are real - we are in effect constantly getting work experience

Laurie Lumley
BA Video Design for Live Performance

Guildhall is an institution that knows it has to be connected to the outside world - that's the key thing. It's not a bubble. It has roots in the city and in the world.

Jonathan Ferrucci
Artist Diploma Piano

One minute you could be playing in the Guildhall Studio Orchestra with jazz musicians, the next you could be playing in the opera pit, then the next minute you'll be with actors doing the musical and then playing a symphony in the orchestra.

Millie Ashton
BMus Violin

I had access to people I would never have been able to meet as a young composer starting out.

Na'ama Zisser
Doctoral Composer in Residence

I knew about the fantastic tutoring and resources, but the friendly and stimulating environment clinched it for me.

Eden Lonsdale
BMus Composition

I had the opportunity to play percussion with the Guildhall Studio Orchestra which gave me the chance to learn from, and play alongside, amazing senior players, as well as to perform with the incredible Liane Carroll.

Dave Adsett
BMus Jazz Drums

At Guildhall, they don't hold your hand, but they're going to push you to become the actor that you want to be.

Daniel Adeosun
BA Acting

It's the scale of productions that really makes Guildhall stand out. It gets to the point where you think, wow, this is massive. In other places, you just wouldn't have that opportunity to learn on the job.

Sian Clare
BA Technical Theatre Arts (Costume)

The Guildhall Alumni Choir

Greetings from everyone in the Guildhall Alumni Choir

The GAC was the brain-child of Christine Webber, a former Junior Exhibitioner and then student at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. We have been rehearsing in Milton Court since September 2014, meeting on six or seven Sundays during the September and January terms, with a performance, formal or informal at the end of each session. The summer term has a different format which culminates in some form of workshop at the end of May. For example, in 2018 there was a choral and orchestral day at Henry Wood Hall and in 2019 there will be a sesquicentennial celebration in honour of Hector Berlioz, in which the workshop weekend will explore some of his lesser-known choral works. This format offers a different perspective on our repertoire and the chance for those for whom a regular term-time commitment is not possible, a chance to join us.

The group comprises Alumni from a variety of courses, their friends, family and students. The common ground is therefore two-fold: the connection with the School and the love of singing, particularly the eclectic repertoire we enjoy. We have been very fortunate to be able to take advantage of the beautiful acoustic in St Bartholomew the Less, West Smithfield, for some of our end-of term events. This year our Holy Week concert (April 2019) will be held for the first time at St Mary’s Church, Cadogan St., Chelsea. We hope that this will be the first of many visits to this lovely church.

We are a friendly and enthusiastic group who enjoy an eclectic mix of repertoire, some of which is challenging and some of which is chosen for the fun, as you can see from our informal concert programmes (click here). For less confident or rusty sight-readers we have easy access to online support for helping with note - learning. Singing is a great way of helping to keep fit, have fun and meet new people: do get in touch if you are interested, regardless of your (or your family’s) opinion about your voice! Have a look at what we’re doing and what we have done and be tempted to contact either Diana or Janie.

The Guildhall Alumni Choir welcomes anyone who enjoys singing to come and join them.

No auditions required
Rehearsals at Guildhall School: about 6 or 7 a term, 10.30 - 1pm on Sundays
A relaxed rehearsal atmosphere, with some social time, too
A wide range of music and performance opportunities
Reasonable subs, reduced for students

For more information, please contact either Diana Bickley at dianabickley@aol.com or Janie Mack at jacarandamusica@sky.com

Forthcoming Events

Saturday 25 September: Guildhall Alumni Choir and Friends
Directed by Diana Bickley
Featuring Robert Felstead (tenor)

A programme of classical and popular music from Bluebirds to Rainbows.

Previous events and programmes

Concert for the 1918 Armistice Centenary Commemoration

The GAC’s Director, Diana Bickley, was the organiser of the 1918 Armistice Centenary Commemoration concert which took place in Béthune last November, with 60 or so performers, including youth choirs from France, Germany and the UK. It was both a very moving and uplifting occasion. For the Finale candles were lit by the young people who also handed out images of the dove of peace to all the audience while singing ‘Let there be peace of earth’.