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On the 16th of December 1967 the "New Thames Singers" (as we were called then) gave their first ever concert, in Windsor Parish Church. Ewan Davidson, an organ scholar from Emmanuel College at Cambridge, had founded the group a few months earlier. The tickets cost five shillings and the concert included works by Byrd, Bach, and Poulenc. This wide coverage of centuries and styles has remained a hallmark of the choir's activities throughout its existence. The creation of the choir was generously supported by the Vaughan Williams Trust and we would therefore like to think that his love of choral music has been reflected throughout our history.
Examination of the archives reveals a rich history. Ewan Davidson conducted over 120 concerts before he reluctantly passed on his baton in 1982, after 15 years. He had established a leading chamber choir for the Thames Valley area, with enthusiastic singers and a wide repertoire. It had shifted its base from Windsor to Datchet to Bracknell, where it has long been considered the resident chamber choir of South Hill Park Arts Centre.
Ewan Davidson was followed by a succession of gifted young conductors (see Music Directors) who have maintained and extended the very high standards he set. Madrigals to modern part songs, Tudor church music to 20th century oratorio, Christmas carols to the St John Passion. This is the breadth of choral music that the choir has rehearsed and performed over the years. We have also operated in a wide variety of places and for many different purposes -
Our objectives are recorded as "the study and practice of choral music in order to foster the public knowledge and appreciation of such music by means of public performance". A more poetic view comes from Ben Jonson, invoked to support our change of name in 1974 - to cultivate "the voyce so sweet, the words so fair, as some soft chime had stroked the air".