About us

About Us

  • Who we are

     Shrewsbury Cantata Choir was founded in 1987 and has around sixty members of mixed voices from around Shropshire. We perform sacred and secular choral works from the Renaissance period to the present day putting on three concerts each year with some additional smaller performances by members.

    The choir has enjoyed the inspiring leadership of Anthony Coupe since May 2019, most recent in a line of talented musical directors.

    Recent performances (since 2018) include:

    Brahms German Requiem; Heaven and Earth (Music for a Summer Night); JS Bach’s St Mark Passion (reconstruction by Andor Gomme); Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle; Verdi’s 

    Requiem; English Songs for an English Summer (Finzi and Elgar); Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols; Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Requiem; Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit; Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Jenkin's The Peacemakers, Rutter's Magnificat,

    We continued singing - and supporting each other - during lockdown in 2020-2021, practising at home and in garden groups. This culminated in an informal performance of Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit and Handel’s Dixit Dominus in June 2021, with an actual concert performance in December 2021.

    We are delighted to be singing as a full choir again.

    Our Musical Directors past and present:

    1987-2006 Ian Ward, founder of the choir, now living and making music in France

    2006-2013 the late David Leeke, former Director of Music at St Chad’s

    2013-2019 Thomas Payne, Musical Director, London City Orchestra, and working in opera.

    Anthony Coupe 2019- Director of Music, Ellesmere College.


  • Where we are

    We rehearse in St Nicholas Hall, at Shrewsbury United Reformed Church, Coleham Head, Shrewsbury, SY3 7BJ on a Wednesday evening. Rehearsals start promptly at 7.30pm and finish fairly promptly at 9.00pm.

  • What we sing

    We have a varied repertoire ranging from major choral works to lighter concerts of short pieces, madrigals and modern part songs.

  • Concerts

    We generally perform three  full concerts per year, plus a Christmas repetoire concert. 

    We also sing Christmas carols in various venues by request.

  • If you would like to join Cantata

    We take great pride in the quality of music we produce but this does not prevent us from being a very friendly choir and rehearsals are fun. Providing the voice section is not full we welcome singers of all ages prepared to give a high level of commitment to attending rehearsals and taking part in concerts. Experience of choral singing is helpful but not essential. Prospective new singers are invited to email judithvaughan7@gmail.com stating your voice part (S A T B).

    The choir does not audition new members. All singers are, however, expected to listen carefully, learn quickly and blend in. If you are invited to join us we will ask you to attend rehearsals for three weeks or more to see if the choir suits you. Once you have reached a mutual decision with the Musical Director regarding full membership the Treasurer will ask you to pay subs.

  • How the choir is managed

    Musical direction of the choir is provided by our Musical Director, Anthony Coupe. The choir may employ a guest conductor in the event that Anthony is unavailable. The choir accompanist is Catrina Lapage. The choir is administered by a Committee consisting of Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, representatives from each voice section, and other officers (publicity team, librarians). The choir has a formal Constitution which is available on request.

    All committee members, and especially the voice section representatives, are always keen to hear constructive comments and suggestions from members. Please bear in mind that the committee is entirely voluntary and offer your support and assistance whenever possible, as there is a great deal of work involved in keeping the show on the road!

  • Subscriptions

    Subscriptions for the year are currently £105, due at the first rehearsal of the academic year in September. The annual subscriptions may, alternatively, be paid in three installments of £35, due at the start of each term. Members are encouraged to pay their subscriptions by Standing Order or BACS transfer into the choir bank account. A Standing Order Mandate form is available for this. Subscriptions may also be paid by cheque or cash, given to the Treasurer. 

    The Choir is a registered charity and is therefore able to claim back tax which members may have paid on their subscriptions and donations. Members who pay income tax are encouraged to fill in a Gift Aid form provided by the Treasurer.

    The Choir very much appreciates the donations made by some members over and above their subscriptions and would encourage all members who can afford to do so to make a voluntary donation.

    Members joining or leaving during the year are entitled to a proportional reduction in subscription (providing that, in the case of a member leaving, the member has told a committee member of his or her intention to leave; otherwise the subscription will still be due).  No reduction is due to members who may be unable to sing for a particular term but wish to retain their membership, but this provision may be waived in special circumstances, for example illness.

    Subscriptions include  most music hire although members may occasionally be requested to purchase their own copy (this generally applies in the case of collections of pieces that the choir is likely to return to over time). 

    The Choir is anxious that no one who wishes to sing should be prevented from doing so by financial circumstances; in this case subscriptions may be reduced or waived.

  • Mission Statement

    We are a medium-sized amateur choir led and inspired by our talented and committed musical director. We achieve a high standard of singing, combining highly focused performances with a sense of fun and enjoyment. We are inclusive and community based. 

    Our performances are well-rehearsed; the singing is bright and sharp, showcasing a broad range of fine classical choral works, madrigals, part songs and commissioned pieces. The Musical Director, assisted by committee members as required, selects a repertoire that appeals to both local audiences and choir members. All those involved in its management are wholeheartedly committed to the choir, striving to maintain its freshness, eager to bring it to a larger audience but taking care to strike a balance between the aspirations of choir members and financial limitations. We encourage talented emerging soloists and increase the appeal of our concerts through the involvement of small groups of accomplished local musicians.

    At the heart of The Shrewsbury Cantata Choir are its members: supportive of each other and welcoming to new members, we enjoy each other’s company and ensure ample opportunities for socialising outside of practices and performances. The concerts are well-publicised and moderately priced, with easily obtainable tickets. The choir performs in a range of local venues and takes part in seasonal and other special events.

  • Members' obligations

    As a member of the Choir you will be expected to: 

    •Attend at least two thirds of rehearsals to sing in any concert.

    •Ensure that you are able to perform a work to the best of your ability in Concert; this includes preparing and studying the works at home.

    •Notify our Musical Director and your section rep as early as possible if you are unable to perform in a Concert.

    •Notify your section rep if you can’t attend a rehearsal.

    •Support the Choir in other ways by:

         - selling concert tickets and publicising our
        concerts and events.

         - supporting social and fund-raising events by
        your presence.

         - helping to prepare and clear concert venues.

         - occasionally taking responsibility for other
        small jobs.

    •As a Charitable Trust the choir is required to appoint Trustees and nominate a committee. Should you wish to volunteer for a role we would be delighted to hear from you. Please discuss informally and confidentially with the Chairman in the first instance.

    •Please bring a soft pencil to rehearsals to mark your score with performance notes and any other details provided in announcements. If you bring two then you’ll have a spare to lend to your neighbour who may have forgotten!

    •It is extremely important that you take care not to lose or damage the music provided on loan and to return all borrowed music to the music Librarian promptly when requested. Late returns will incur fines for the choir.

  • Rehearsals

    Rehearsals are held each Wednesday, 7:30 to 9:00 pm, during school term time, usually including the half term holiday. They are normally held in St Nicholas Hall, United Reformed Church, English Bridge, Shrewsbury. The Secretary ensures that actual dates and venues are publicised, usually by email, to the whole choir. Dates and locations are also posted on the choir website . 

    We aspire to improve the quality of each concert performance by ensuring that we are well rehearsed for concerts; to a large extent this is an individual responsibility. Singers are encouraged to prepare outside of rehearsals using rehearsal aids such as practice CDs, mp3 downloads and online MIDI files. Practising at home reduces the level of ‘note bashing’ required and means that the Musical Director can focus on quality of singing and interpretation.

    If required, voice section reps may arrange separate informal rehearsals before a concert.

    Some members adjourn after the rehearsal to a local pub, the Cross Foxes, 27 Longden Coleham, SY3 7DE, where all are most welcome.

  • Concert Guidance

    Concert Dress:

    For Ladies: Black long or 3/4 sleeved top, long black skirt/trousers, black shoes and an artificial pink or red rose, or similar, to be worn on the right-hand side.

    For Men: For formal concerts: white shirt and black bow tie, dinner jacket, black trousers or for more informal concerts open-neck black shirt, black trousers, black shoes.

    The choir sometimes uses maroon folders (£7.00 from the Treasurer.)

    Singer decorum at concerts:

    1. Preparation for going on stage. Use the pre-concert rehearsal to establish the order for filing onto the stage, i.e. leave the stage after the afternoon rehearsal in the reverse order to coming onto the stage. Filing off in this way after this rehearsal into the side areas or side room will establish the order for the entry before the concert.

    2. Once the choir is on stage everyone remains standing until the last singer is in position; we then sit down quietly and at the same time. The last singer to arrive on stage will provide an audio cue for the choir to sit.

    3. Conductor enters – stand. Sit when conductor indicates. When the conductor is happy with the orchestra/band/soloists, he will signal to the choir to stand again for the performance to start.

    4. ‘Sits and stands’ will be confirmed during the rehearsal, often just before the actual concert.

    5. The choir should stand quietly at the end of the concert until directed by the Conductor to sit. Normally the Conductor directs the audience to applaud the soloists and then the orchestra; after that he directs the choir to stand for their applause. The choir should continue to remain quiet and refrain from chatting amongst themselves or cheering the soloists (leaving that to the discretion of the audience). If the choir is sitting again and the soloists return for further applause, then it is fine for the choir to join in the clapping from a sitting position.

    6. The choir should always deport themselves in a professional manner and should not talk to each other during the performance.

Some fun photos



Share by: