Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Shortlisted for the 2024 Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration Award, the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus is South Yorkshire’s foremost large mixed-voice chorus, performing a range of works to a high level of musical excellence. We regularly sing with leading orchestras including the Hallé, the BBC Philharmonic, the Northern Sinfonia and the Manchester Camerata, and with internationally renowned conductors such as Gianandrea Noseda, Nicholas Kraemer, David Hill, Gábor Takács-Nagy and Sofi Jeannin. We perform with Orchestra in Residence the Hallé and acclaimed soloists as part of the Sheffield International Concert Season at the City Hall in Sheffield, and at other venues around the UK. We frequently collaborate with other large choirs such as the Hallé Chorus, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Leeds Philharmonic Chorus and the Halifax Choral Society.

We have participated in The Proms on a number of occasions, including the Proms in the Park event for the Last Night of the Proms in Heaton Park, Manchester in 2005 and in a performance of Beethoven‘s ninth symphony with the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra for Prom 75. We have developed touring and performance links with the Philharmonischer Chor Bochum, who are regular performers with the Bochumer Symphoniker based in Bochum, one of Sheffield’s twin towns in Germany. In September 2023 members of the Chorus sang Mahler’s 2nd Symphony in Monte Carlo with the CBSO and CBSO Chorus.

The Chorus has commissioned several new pieces in recent years, and has made recordings for Chandos and for BBC Radio 3. The Chorus’s recording of The Dream of Gerontius made with the Hallé and Barbirolli nearly 50 years ago is highly acclaimed and is still available. The Chorus regularly performs  ‘traditional’ repertoire (Verdi, Mozart and Faure Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Britten’s War Requiem, etc.) as well as that of contemporary composers. The Chorus also has its lighter moments, in particular our very popular annual Christmas Concerts with the Black Dyke Band. Carols from the ‘Awake Arise’ Christmas CD with Black Dyke Band have been Classic FM Drive winners no fewer than four times.

Our subscriptions pay for a professional Music Director, Darius Battiwalla, and accompanist Rachel Fright, both of whom give tremendous value to every rehearsal. Individual singers are professionally coached in rehearsals by Maggie McDonald who also coaches the Hallé Choir. The actor Samuel West and BBC Radio presenter Petroc Trelawny are our patrons and Rachel Copley BEM is our President.

New singers welcome

The chorus currently numbers more than 170 singers, and always welcomes new members in all voice parts.  Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm, usually at at St Andrew’s Church, Psalter Lane, Sheffield, S11 8YL. We are a friendly choir and prospective members are very welcome to try us out before joining, following an audition which doesn’t involve sight singing; re-auditions are usually every three years.   If you are interested, find out more on our New Members page.

Stella Jockel Young Composer Competition

In 2023 the Chorus launched the Stella Jockel Competition to support local young composers starting out in their musical careers. The winning works were premiered at the finale of the Classicsal Sheffield Festival Weekend in Sheffield City Hall. You can read more about the competition at Stella Jockel Young Comp0ser Competition. This project led to a nomination for a Making Music Award in 2023 and for a Royal Philharmonic Society Inspiration Award in 2024.

Young Conductor Scheme

In 2024 the Chorus launched a support scheme for aspiring young choral conductors. The scheme enables the recipient to conduct the Chorus for part of each rehearsal, coached by Music Director Darius Battiwalla, as well as receiving a stipend of £500 to help fund their musical development.

Tenor Bursary Scheme

In 2025 the Chorus introduced a bursary scheme for tenors with experience singing in choirs but whose commitments prevent them from joining the Chorus on a permanent basis. The value of the bursary is £120 per concert, in return for which the holder agrees to sing tenor with Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus in the named concert (s) and attend the relevant rehearsals.  Applicants should have choral experience and will need a reference from a choral Music Director who knows their voice and musical ability. If you are interested in applying for a tenor bursary, please contact the Membership Officer Marianne Grayson at MarianneGrayson@sheffieldphil.org.

Click here for details of our next concert