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 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.
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".
Examination of the archives reveals a rich history (see Past Concerts). 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 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
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 -
Examination of the archives reveals a rich history (see Past Concerts). 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 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 - concert halls, arts and sports centres, churches, cathedrals as visiting choir, abbeys, weddings, festivals and competitions. Highlights include the 10th anniversary concert in St George's Chapel Windsor Castle; a chamber performance of the Messiah as our first concert in the new Wilde Theatre at Bracknell in 1985; a return to our original venue (Windsor Parish Church) for our 25th anniversary for which we performed the Bach B Minor Mass.
In 2004 Thames Voyces was chosen as one of three choirs countrywide to take part in that year's Adopt-a-Composer scheme for supporting gifted emerging musicians in the composition and performance of new music.
A further highlight was the celebration of our 40th anniversary in June 2007. This provided a wide coverage of styles and included a first performance of “Four Thames Songs” specially composed for the occasion by Peter White.
2008 was marked with concerts in Oloron and Ogeu. This was our very first tour abroad, performing ourselves and also with the local choral group La Villanelle.
The creation of the choir in 1967 was generously supported by the Vaughan Williams Trust. We would therefore hope that his love of choral music has been reflected throughout our history and trust that this and other pages of the website do indeed show this and will continue to do so in the future.
In 2004 Thames Voyces was chosen as one of three choirs countrywide to take part in that year's Adopt-
A further highlight was the celebration of our 40th anniversary in June 2007. This provided a wide coverage of styles and included a first performance of “Four Thames Songs” specially composed for the occasion by Peter White.
2008 was marked with concerts in Oloron and Ogeu. This was our very first tour abroad, performing ourselves and also with the local choral group La Villanelle.
The creation of the choir in 1967 was generously supported by the Vaughan Williams Trust. We would therefore hope that his love of choral music has been reflected throughout our history and trust that this and other pages of the website do indeed show this and will continue to do so in the future.
History