Horsham Chamber Choir hoping for autumn live concerts

Peter Hooper, chairman of HCC, said: “This will also be the first opportunity to welcome Olivia Shotton, the choir’s new conductor. The first concert on October 9 will feature the Vivaldi Gloria, supported by similarly joyous early and not-so-early music and on December 5 the choir will be celebrating Advent and Christmas.

“The choir has been working with Olivia online since January (in English, French, German, Latin and Swedish) and is looking forward to resuming in person rehearsals, very shortly – socially distanced, of course. Olivia’s appointment was delayed by the pandemic for almost a year and Jenny Hansell, who had hoped to step down last year having conducted the choir for ten very successful years, very generously agreed to continue until a new conductor could be appointed.

“Olivia has a degree in music from Sheffield University and is currently studying for a masters in choral conducting. She is a professional contralto and a violin player and was until recently musical director of The Belper Singers.

“Olivia is now based in Chiswick and currently conducts a number of London choirs.

“Horsham Chamber Choir is an enthusiastic and forward-looking choir and has vacancies for new voices in all parts and offers choral scholarships to young people who are interested in developing their experience of choral singing.”