TheLondon Philharmonic Choir (LPC) is one of the leading independent Britishchoirs in the United Kingdom based in London. The patron isPrincess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy andSir Mark Elder is president. The choir, comprising more than 200 members, holds charitable status and is governed by a committee of 6 elected directors. As a charity, its aims are to promote, improve, develop and maintain education in the appreciation of the art and science of music by the presentation of public concerts.

The LPC was formed in 1946 with Frederic Jackson as chorus master, for theLondon Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). On 15 May 1947, the choir made its début with a performance ofBeethoven's Ninth Symphony at theRoyal Albert Hall under the baton ofVictor de Sabata. Their first recording was ofStravinsky'sSymphony of Psalms with the LPO in 1947 followed by the first radio broadcast ofVaughan Williams'Sancta Civitas andVerdi'sStabat Mater in March 1948 with theBBC Symphony Orchestra. Throughout Jackson's tenure (1947–1969), the choir worked closely with the LPO and with major conductors and soloists of the period including SirAdrian Boult,Eduard van Beinum,Dame Janet Baker,Peter Pears andKathleen Ferrier. Despite funding cuts to the LPO in the 1950s, the choir maintained work by being engaged by other orchestras. By the mid-1960s LPC's performance standards were slipping and Jackson was invited to retire. His successor,John Alldis improved the standards of the choir and also encouraged the performance of contemporary works such asDavid Bedford'sStar clusters, Nebulae and Places in Devon. The choir worked withBernard Haitink andSir John Pritchard during their time as LPO Principal conductors in the 1970s. A noted LPC recording calledSounds of Glory in 1976, now marketed asPraise – 18 Choral Masterpieces, has become the best-selling recording for the choir to date. In 1979, LPC undertook its first overseas tour to Germany.

In 1982,Richard Cooke succeeded Alldis as Chorus Master and saw the choir through a productive decade. In 1984, the choir registered as a charity. The choir performed underGeorg Solti andKlaus Tennstedt who were the two principal LPO conductors of that decade. The LPC also continued to enjoy touring overseas. A noted recording with Tennstedt of theMahler eighth symphony won an award in 1987. However, the early 1990s was a period of turmoil for the LPO and LPC as financial recession and resignations at the LPO created a climate of uncertainty, while there was some press opposition to the appointment of Franz Welser-Möst as Principal Conductor. Cooke resigned in 1991 due in part to the strained working relationship with Welser-Möst and disputes between choir and LPO management. The LPO appointedJeremy Jackman as the next Chorus Master in 1992. However, with the choir's difficulties being widely advertised, existing membership levels declined and recruitment of new members became a challenge. Jackman resigned in 1994 after only two seasons at the helm.

Neville Creed became the next Chorus Master (1994–present). His enthusiasm helped to build back morale and membership. In 1996, at the end of the Welser-Möst tenure, the LPC becameautonomous after being severed from the LPO's payroll. During this bleak period, the choir was able to secure concerts with other London orchestras and with arts promotion institutions such asIMG Artists andRaymond Gubbay for much needed financial aid. Over time, the choir's performance standard, visibility and reputation improved. Eventually, relations with the LPO settled into mutual respect and good will and the LPC was given the right of first refusal for most future choral projects with the LPO. In 1997, the choir celebrated its 50th anniversary with a concert at theAlbert Hall attended by Princess Alexandra andUrsula Vaughan Williams. In 2002, the choir adopted a new constitution and became a registered charity with the legal protection of a limited company. For their 60th anniversary in 2007, the bookHallelujah! An informal history of the London Philharmonic Choir was published. The LPC continues to work closely with the LPO's Principal ConductorVladimir Jurowski (2007–present) and Guest Principal ConductorYannick Nézet-Séguin (2009–present).

The LPC is an independent amateur mixed-voicechoir holdingcharitable status. The choir, while being rooted in the British choral tradition, also performs a wide repertoire of different styles and languages. The choir's aim is to perform large choral works to professional standard whilst providing a friendly social network for its members. As a charity, its aims are to promote, improve, develop and maintain education in the appreciation of the art and science of music by the presentation of public concerts. The choir also aims to encourage and support for the public benefit all art forms, particularly but not exclusively those involving music, including other cultural and educational activities in order to make these more accessible to the public.^[1]

Members of the London Philharmonic Choir after the performance ofAntonín Dvořák's Requiem at theRoyal Festival Hall on 7 February 2009

The choir consists of a pool of more than 200 members ranging from college students, working age to retirees. There are four vocal sections;bass,tenor,alto andsoprano. Each vocal section is divided into upper and lower voices. The choir also accepts female tenors and male altos as members. Each section has a voice representative who manages the section members, notes attendance and sits on the committee.

All members are volunteers and each member is auditioned prior to joining. Members who pass their audition pay a one-off £25 subscription. There is no annual membership fee. Existing members are re-auditioned every 1 or 3 years with the choir.

The choir rehearses on Monday and/or Wednesday nights depending on the current project and the rehearsals are normally based atHinde Street Methodist Church.

The board is made up of members of the choir, and they are in charge of the running of the choir and liaising with theLondon Philharmonic Orchestra and other organisations. The board is made up of the Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Choir Manager, Membership Co-ordinator and Marketing Manager. Additional voluntary roles, including Voice Representatives and Librarian, support the board in the day-to-day running of the choir.

Revenue is derived from initial subscription, donations and above all from concert engagements.^[2] The Artistic Director and the Accompanist are paid positions. The Artistic Director also holds anex officio position on the committee.

Source:^[3]

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The LPC was formed in December 1946 by former members of thePhilharmonic Choir (founded in 1919 byCharles Kennedy Scott^[4] and disbanded in 1939 at the onset ofWorld War II^[5][6]) and theLondon Philharmonic Orchestra.^[7] The appointed choir master was Professor Frederic Jackson as Charles Kennedy Scott was unable to resume conductorship. This alliance made the London Philharmonic Choir the first major London choir to be attached to one of the big independent London orchestras.^[8][3]

In the founding years, the choir was composed of amateur and professional singers, the latter being paid a sum of tenshillings andsixpence per rehearsal session. The amateur members paid the annual membership fee of oneguinea.^[7] The choir also commenced a membership drive with the placement of an advertisement in the February 1947 issue ofThe Musical Times..^[9] In March 1947, after recruiting over 300 members, rehearsals commenced on Wednesday evenings at theWestminster Cathedral Hall.^[8]

The choir made its début on 15 May 1947 with a performance ofBeethoven's Ninth Symphony with the LPO conducted byVictor de Sabata at theRoyal Albert Hall.^[10] The choir's first recording wasIgor Stravinsky'sSymphony of Psalms in 1947 underErnest Ansermet.^[11] This was followed by their first radio broadcast ofVaughan Williams'Sancta Civitas andVerdi'sStabat Mater in March 1948 with theBBC Symphony Orchestra (BBCSO) underSir Adrian Boult.^[8] Another first for the choir was the Proms performance in August 1952 ofStravinsky'sSymphony of Psalms with the LPO conducted byBasil Cameron at the Royal Albert Hall.^[12]

In the early 1950s, the LPO was in financial difficulties as funding from theLondon County Council was severed.^[13] Despite the LPO's loyalty to the choir, the financial crisis resulted in the choir being used less during this period. The LPO board cited "...because of the number of professional choristers, the cost of putting a concert with the Choir had become so great that it was difficult to maintain its interest." Jackson was now paid by engagement rather than a fixed salary. The LPO board also agreed "that in the circumstances, no objection could be raised if the choir found work for themselves, provided reference was made to the LPO before any engagement was accepted".^[14] By 1958, the choir's annual membership fee was raised to one pound ten shillings as a means to maintain administration funds. This was further raised in 1959 to £3 as the choir was now responsible for the remuneration of the Chorus Master.^[15]

The LPC continued its partnership with the LPO throughout the 1960s. In the spring of 1967,Bernard Haitink was appointed principal conductor of the LPO and in the first season under his reign, the LPC performedBritten'sSpring Symphony, Bruckner'sE Minor Mass and Mahler'sResurrection Symphony.^[16] In March 1968, the choir made its first television broadcast: a performance ofElgar'sDream of Gerontius atCanterbury Cathedral with the LPO conducted bySir Adrian Boult with soloistsPeter Pears,Dame Janet Baker andJohn Shirley-Quirk. The production was directed byBrian Large for theBBC and broadcast in colour.^[17]

However, by the late 1960s, the LPO board were dissatisfied with the dwindling performance quality of the LPC and by implication, with Jackson. Jackson's retirement as Chorus Master was announced in May 1969, "... after 21 years owing to the pressure of other engagements...".^[18]John Alldis,^[19] who was Founding Chorus Master of theLondon Symphony Chorus (LSC), succeeded as Chorus Master of the LPC that same year.^[20]

Frederic Jackson died on 10 February 1972 while conductingVerdi's Requiem at theRoyal Academy of Music. He was 67 years old.^[21][22]

The arrival ofJohn Alldis fostered a new era for the LPC. The committee restructured with the addition of voice section representatives. The choir's annual membership fee was also abolished. Rehearsals were relocated toBishopsgate Institute as Alldis favoured its acoustics.^[23] Recruitment of new members commenced almost immediately with advertisements and invitation by existing members. Alldis also re-auditioned existing LPC members to maintain standards. Some former LSC members loyal to Alldis followed him to the LPC. One new recruit who joined as a tenor in 1972 wasDavid Temple. He is now the conductor and musical director of theCrouch End Festival Chorus.^[24][25] David had been invited to become the Music Director of Crouch End Arts Festival in 1984 by John Gregson, its Director and fellow LPC tenor. Together they founded Crouch End Festival Chorus in that year. It was at this time thatMalcolm Hicks^[26] joined as accompanist and Deputy Chorus Master.^[27]

Along with maintaining a high performance level with standard choral repertoire,Alldis also encouraged the choir to undertake contemporary works such asDavid Bedford'sStar Clusters, Nebulae and Places in Devon which was commissioned for the LPC and Brass of theLPO and was given its première on 7 March 1971 at theRoyal Festival Hall.^{[28][29][30][31]} Another performance of a contemporary work occurred in August 1972 when David Rowland's Cantate Laetantes Alleluia was featured at the International Carnival of Experimental Sound – ICES-72 – inthe Roundhouse atChalk Farm.^[32][33]

The LPC performed with major classical soloists of the decade. These included,Kiri Te Kanawa,Heather Harper,Sheila Armstrong,Margaret Price,Norma Procter,Helen Watts,Peter Pears,Richard Lewis,Robert Tear,John Carol Case,John Shirley-Quirk,Norman Bailey andRaimund Herincx.^[34]

In 1976, the choir recordedSounds of Glory which is a compilation of hymns and songs for choir and orchestra for use in television advertisements and the like. The recording is now marketed under the titlePraise – 18 Choral Masterpieces and has become the best-selling album for the choir to date.^[35] Produced byIrving Martin, it was a chart success and by 25 December, in its seventh week on theMusic Week Top Albums chart, it was at no. 20.^[36] In 1979, the choir undertook its first European tour, toWilhelmshaven in Northern Germany, performingBruckner'sE Minor Mass with the local wind ensemble. This tour was arranged through contacts from a choir member as part of Wilhelmshaven's annual music festivalWochenende an der Jade.^[37]

After 13 years as chorus master of the LPC, Alldis retired in 1982, the year of LPO'sgolden jubilee.

John Alldis died on 20 December 2010. He was 81 years old.^[38]

Alldis' successor was Richard Cooke who took up the post on 10 March 1982.^[39][40] On 12 March 1984, the choir adopted the rules by theCharity Commission and a month later became aregistered charity.^[41]

During the 1980s, recordings became less frequent as most came to be offered to professional ensembles. However, the choir sang regularly under the baton of such conductors as SirGeorg Solti andKlaus Tennstedt. Opportunities for touring became more common; in 1985, for example, the choir visited Italy with Tennstedt, performingBeethoven's Ninth inPerugia andPompeii.^[42] Tennstedt became the choir's first president when he commenced his tenure as the LPO's Principal Conductor and Artistic Director in 1983. It was with Tennstedt that the choir recorded the Mahler'sEighth Symphony together with theTiffin School boys' choir and theLPO forEMI in 1987.^[43] This recording won the 1987 Gramophone Magazine's 'Orchestral Record of the Year Award'.^[44][45]Tennstedt stood down from the LPO in 1987 due to ill health, having nurtured good rapport with Cooke and the LPC during his tenure. In 1988, members of the choir wore monks' habits during their performance of the British concert première ofOlivier Messiaen's 5-hour-long opera, Saint François d'Assise (Saint Francis of Assisi) at the Royal Festival Hall conducted byKent Nagano, a performance they then took to Lyon.^[46]

In 1990, the LPO appointedFranz Welser-Möst to the post of Principal Conductor.^[47] That same year, the LPO became the first "resident" orchestra at theSouth Bank (the arts complex which includes the Royal Festival Hall). This enabled the LPO (and its choir) to have first choice in dates, rehearsals and repertoire.^[48] In 1991, Tennstedt conducted the LPC and LPO in three performances ofMahler'sEighth Symphony at the Royal Festival Hall one of which was attended by Mahler's granddaughter, Anna.^[48]

The economic recession of the 1990s was a turbulent period for the arts in Britain. High-level resignations at the LPO management fostered tension and uncertainty for the LPO and LPC.^[49] Furthermore, Welser-Möst was not enamoured with the choir, preferring what he called a more 'Continental sound'. Inevitably, the working relationship was strained between Cooke and Welser-Möst.^[50] In August 1991, after a performance atThe Proms of Beethoven'sNinth Symphony conducted byTennstedt,^[51] Cooke concluded his engagement with the LPC.

Richard Cooke is now Music Director of theRoyal Choral Society.^[52][53]

The LPO appointedJeremy Jackman, a former member of theKing's Singers, as the next Chorus Master in late 1991 to commence in 1992.^[49] The LPO did not programme any concerts involving the LPC in the 1992/93 season to allow the choir time to regroup. With the departure of Cooke, some LPC members, uncertain of the choir's future, defected to other choirs resulting in declining membership. Recruitment was made all the more challenging as the choir's difficulties were widely advertised.^[49] Despite this setback, Jackman and the fragmented choir worked hard to achieve decent results for Beethoven's Ninth withTennstedt,Janáček'sGlagolitic Mass withJiří Bělohlávek andHaydn'sCreation withSir Roger Norrington.^[54] In March 1994, Jackman handed in his resignation after working with the choir for only two concert seasons. By late 1994, after months of searching and auditioning, the LPO eventually appointedNeville Creed^[55] as the next LPC Chorus Master.

Jeremy Jackman is now Musical Director of theEnglish Baroque Choir,^[56] theCecilian Singers^[57] inLeicester, and theJay Singers^[58] inNorfolk. He also gives music masterclasses and workshops.^[59]

Neville Creed was the former head of music atTiffin School and conductor of theBournemouth andGuildford choirs. He collaborated with the LPC by preparing the Tiffin Boys' Choir on theMahler Eight recording in 1987. His brother,Marcus Creed, is also a noted English conductor, now based in Germany.^[60][61] Creed's enthusiasm and drive enabled the LPC to undertake a membership drive and to build up morale. The choir was able to give creditable performances with theLPO at theRoyal Festival Hall in the 1994/95 LPO concert season of theBritten andVerdi Requiems underWelser-Möst,Berlioz concerts withNorrington, Beethoven's Ninth and Bruckner'sTe Deum withHaitink, and two performances ofVerdi'sAida withZubin Mehta.^[62]

However, the prevailing economic conditions in the arts in Britain meant orchestras were under ever increasing financial strains. By the time ofFranz Welser-Möst departure in 1996, the LPC ceased to be on the payroll of the LPO and becameautonomous. This meant that the choir needed to maintain some form of financial stability while recognising concerts with the LPO were no longer guaranteed.^[63] The main focus for the choir was to improve its standard of choral singing if it were to survive as reputation alone was not enough to garner any engagements. The choir began approaching and performing with other orchestras such as theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra, TheLondon Symphony Orchestra and thePhilharmonia Orchestra. The choir also actively pursued engagements from arts organisations through networks known by individual choir members, such asIMG Artists (Hampton Court Music Festival) andRaymond Gubbay (Classical Spectacular concerts). LPC members were also likely to be found augmenting other larger choirs and their respective orchestras, such as theRoyal Choral Society or theLondon Symphony Chorus if a large force was required for a particular performance.^[64] Eventually, the relationship between the LPO and LPC settled into one of mutual respect and goodwill. The choir was now given the right of first refusal for future choral projects involving theLPO.^[65]

In 1996,Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy accepted the choir's invitation to become its first Patron. In the same year,Sir Roger Norrington became the second President of the choir. In 1997, the LPC celebrated its 50th anniversary with a performance ofVaughan Williams'Sea Symphony at the Royal Albert Hall conducted by Neville Creed and attended by Princess Alexandra andUrsula Vaughan Williams.^[65]

In 2002, the choir adopted a new constitution and became aregistered charity with the legal protection of alimited company.^[66] In 2003, Neville Creed's role changed from Chorus Master to Artistic Director. This enabled him to have a say on the type of programming the choir was to undertake. However, Creed's increasing commitments as Director of Cultural Activities atSt Edward's School^[67] inOxford, resulted in the appointment of Matthew Rowe as Associate Chorus Director to work alongside Creed.^[68]

2004 and 2005 saw an exceptional number of tours and high-prestige performances for members of the LPC. In January 2004, Rowe prepared and accompanied the LPC to perform Mahler'sResurrection symphony (and to premièreJohn Harbison's Abraham) beforePope John Paul II at theVatican. For this "Papal Concert of Reconciliation", the LPC were joined by the Ankara State Polyphonic Choir, the Kraków Philharmonic Choir, members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and thePittsburgh Symphony Orchestra underGilbert Levine.^[69][70] In April, the choir sangHaydn's Creation^[71] in Hong Kong, returning to performLa damnation de Faust withMark Elder in London and theMahler'sResurrection symphony with thePhilharmonia underEsa-Pekka Salonen in Paris and at theRoyal Festival Hall. Other performances that year includedGlagolitic Mass (June), Janáček's The Eternal Gospel andMahler's Third Symphony (July),La damnation de Faust andCarmina Burana (October),A Sea Symphony (November) and Raymond Gubbay's Christmas classics and Beethoven Ninth (December).^[72][73]

In 2005 alone, the choir toured six countries beginning with Greece in January, Malaysia and Australia in June, Germany in July, Switzerland in September and finally Italy in November.^[74] In May 2005, the choir performedBritten'sWar Requiem with the LPO underKurt Masur. This concert – the last before the Royal Festival Hall's closure for refurbishment – marked the 60th anniversary of the end ofWorld War II in Europe^[75][76] and was recorded by the LPO for the orchestra's recently launched CD label.^[77][78] The LPC celebrated their 60th anniversary in May 2007, with a choral concert at theQueen Elizabeth Hall. This event also coincided with the book launch ofHallelujah! An informal history of the London Philharmonic Choir written by author and long standing member of the choir,Daniel Snowman.^[79]

In June 2007, the Royal Festival Hall was reopened following extensive refurbishment. The LPC participated in the gala opening concert, one highlight of which was a celebratory new composition, Alleluia, by the composer – and member of the LPC bass section –Julian Anderson. In September 2007, as part of its ongoing commitment as a charity, the LPC was involved with its first Mayor of London Open Rehearsal at theBishopsgate Institute.^[80]

In July 2008, Rowe prepared the choir for theDoctor Who Prom with theBBC Philharmonic under conductorsStephen Bell andBen Foster held at theRoyal Albert Hall. Soloists wereMelanie Pappenheim andTim Phillips.^[81] He also undertook non-LPC engagements, such as mentor toKatie Derham^[82] inBBC 2's production ofMaestro shown in August and September 2008.^[83] After 6 years, Rowe left the LPC at the end of 2008 to take up the position of symphony orchestra conductor for theSan Diego State University School of Music and Dance in January 2009.^[84] Creed returned to full duties as Artistic Director and the role of Associate Chorus Director was made redundant.

With the success of the 2008Doctor Who Prom, the choir was invited to perform in the "Evolution!" Prom in August 2009, performingJón LeifsHekla, Op. 52 and also the première ofGoldie's compositionSine Tempore (Without Time) commissioned by the BBC.^[85] The creation of this work was featured in the two-part seriesClassic Goldie onBBC 2.^[86]

In September 2009, the choir, augmented by theLondon Chorus, recorded50 greatest pieces of classical music with the LPO underDavid Parry at Henry Wood Hall.^[87] This "download only" recording released in December 2009, was the first for the LPC.^[88][89] This recording was ranked 4th on theGramophone Magazine classical charts as of 30 October 2010.^[90]

The choir's first engagement under the LPO's Principal Guest ConductorYannick Nézet-Séguin occurred in April 2009 with the performance of Brahms'Requiem with the LPO at theRoyal Festival Hall.^[91] This performance was recorded for the LPO label and released 29 March 2010.^[92][78]

As part of the 115th BBC Prom season, the choir again participated in aDoctor Who Prom on 24 July which was reprised the following day. The prom also featured theBBC National Orchestra of Wales with conductors Ben Foster andGrant Llewellyn with music byMurray Gold.^[93][94]

In June 2014,Sir Mark Elder became the third President of the choir. In February 2024, the choir announced that Creed is to retire as its artistic director at the close of the 2024–2025 season, and subsequently to take the title of chorus director emeritus.^[95] In May 2024, The choir announced the appointment of Victoria Longdon as Associate Chorus Director starting 1st June 2024.^[96]

• Snowman, Daniel (2007).Hallelujah! An informal history of the London Philharmonic Choir. London: London Philharmonic Choir.ISBN 978-0-9555688-0-0.

• Official website
• London Philharmonic Orchestra
• London Philharmonic Choir atAllMusic
• London Philharmonic Choir atIMDb
• Laura Westcott, "Life in a Successful choir".The Times, 21 January 2010.^{[dead link]}

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• Musical groups established in 1947
• 1947 establishments in England
• London Philharmonic Orchestra

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