"It is not an exaggeration to make claims for the Vivace Chorus being one of the best choral groups of its kind."

Each season, our concerts inspire performers and audience alike. Jeremy Backhouse’s passion for choral works and his sheer enthusiasm for music-making are evident at every rehearsal and every performance. In the sublime atmosphere of Guildford Cathedral, the intimacy of St Martin-in-the-Fields or the majestic grandeur of the Royal Albert Hall the choir produces a wonderful sound, born from passion, great direction and simple hard work.

The choir relishes the challenge of more unusual works such as Mahler’s 8^th Symphony or Prokoviev’s Alexander Nevsky as much as the great choral masterpieces of Verdi, Bach, Brahms, Handel or Haydn. At a more intimate level, we are at home with the works of Fauré, Tavener, Allegri or Lauridsen. Contemporary music is an important feature of the repertoire and our Contemporary Choral Classics series is designed both to challenge the choral singing and to promote the classics of the future.

The chorus has come a long way since it began over 60 years ago as the Guildford Philharmonic Choir, gaining over time an enviable reputation for concerts of the highest professionalism. Jeremy Backhouse has been Music Director since 1995 and our versatile and accomplished rehearsal pianist Francis Pott joined us in 2008.

We are dedicated, ambitious and achieve great results. We don’t just sing the score: we get beyond the notes on the page, bringing music to life.

Join us and experience the thrill and emotion of top-class music-making.