# Lewes Singers ## Posts - [Plans for 2026](https://lewessingers.org.uk/plans-for-2026/): We’re having a well-earned rest this Christmas – most of our singers have regular commitments with other choirs, and Nick and Robin have choral workshops to organise as well as Nick’s various choirs’ concerts… so the next Lewes Singers Christmas concert will be on Sunday 20th December 2026. In the meantime, we are booked to sing the weekend services at Winchester Cathedral on May 23rd – 24th 2026. We’re always happy to hear from potential new members, particularly Sopranos and Tenors. We look for experienced and confident choral singers committed to excellent performance, with good tone, sight-reading and ability to... Read More - [Ely Cathedral weekend](https://lewessingers.org.uk/ely-cathedral-weekend/): We have a choir of seventeen singers going to Ely this coming weekend (July 19-20) to sing Saturday Evensong and Sunday Eucharist and Evensong.  This will be our first English cathedral visit since 2021 (sadly we never made it to Westminster Abbey last year as it turns out another choir was also booked for that weekend) so we’re really looking forward to it. The  programme includes Rose Preces and Responses, Leighton Magdalen Service (Saturday) Balfour Gardiner Evening Hymn (Saturday), Clive Osgood’s Canticles and Stephanie Martin Hear my prayer (Sunday). At Sunday Eucharist we’re singing Victoria Missa O Quam Gloriosum and... Read More - [Looking forward to 2025](https://lewessingers.org.uk/looking-forward-to-2025/): The Christmas concerts went wonderfully, so much so that we decided we’re going to have a Christmas concert in 2025 too. Before now the Christmas concert has been every other year. But clearly people love Christmas concerts! And we really enjoy planning and presenting them. For now though we’re looking forward to our trip to Ely in the summer. We’ll be singing the services on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July. And maybe another cathedral visit before then, who knows? - [Vivaldi Gloria and more](https://lewessingers.org.uk/vivaldi-gloria-and-more/): The posters have arrived and are looking lovely! Tickets are now on sale for our Christmas concert in Lewes on Sunday 22nd December at 6pm. We’ll be singing Vivaldi Gloria, plus carols and festive pieces including ‘Verbum Caro Factum Est’ from the Christmas Reponsories by Portuguese baroque composer João Rodrigues Esteves, and two of Poulenc’s Christmas motets. Other pieces you’ll hear include Sally Beamish ‘In the stillness’, Jonathan Dove ‘The Three King’s and favourites such as ‘Away in a Manger’ and ‘In the bleak midwinter’. Having a string quartet led by world class violinist Julia Bishop, with Howard Beach on... Read More - [2024 Christmas Concert in Lewes](https://lewessingers.org.uk/2024-christmas-concert-in-lewes/): We’re back for our biennial Christmas concert at St Michael’s in Lewes, on Sunday 22nd December 2024. It’s an exciting programme – we’re performing Vivaldi Gloria accompanied by a string quartet led by the brilliant Julia Bishop and with the equally brilliant Howard Beach playing Nick’s chamber organ. We’ll also get to hear ‘Winter’ from the Four Seasons! Alongside this we present a stunning selection of Christmas and seasonal choral pieces spanning 500 years, some familiar, other less so. This will be the last Christmas concert in Lewes before Christmas day. Come and soak up the atmosphere while enjoying some... Read More - [Westminster Abbey visit postponed](https://lewessingers.org.uk/westminster-abbey-visit-postponed/): Disappointingly, our Evensong on August 3rd is cancelled. Sadly, there was a mix-up at the Abbey and we found out we had been double-booked with another choir who are coming down from Yorkshire! It’s unusual for the Abbey to make such a mistake, but they were very apologetic and offered us a choice of dates next year in lieu. When we have a firm date I’ll post it here. Fingers crossed! - [Tour to the Netherlands](https://lewessingers.org.uk/tour-to-the-netherlands/): At the end of May we shall be off to the Netherlands. On Saturday 25th May at 8pm we’ll be giving a concert of music by English composers at the Lokhorstkerk in Leiden. The Lokhorstkerk is a wonderful 17th century church with an organ that is 250 years old this year. Our programme features sacred and secular music by English composers from Tallis and Byrd to Britten and Will Todd. Nick will be playing the Bach Fantasia in G Major BVW 572. We’re excited to be singing there! The next day Sunday 26th May in The Hague we are joining... Read More - [Eastbourne concert February 2024](https://lewessingers.org.uk/eastbourne-concert-february-2024/): We’re reprising our October concert ‘Seek Him that maketh the Seven Stars’ in Eastbourne in February. The programme will be almost the same, but with a few tweaks. We’re delighted to have Hamish Dustagheer accompanying us again, and we’ll be presenting the concert as a sequence, as we did in Lewes, since it went down so well! Details: Sunday 25 February at 4pm, at St Saviour’s Church, Eastbourne Programme to include: Britten Hymn to the Virgin, Lennox Berkeley Missa Brevis, William Walton Set me as a seal, Ralph Vaughan Williams Mass in G minor, Clive Osgood Miserere (commissioned by the Lewes Singers),... Read More - [Rehearsals going well... just 2 weeks to go](https://lewessingers.org.uk/rehearsals-going-well-just-2-weeks-to-go/): We have just one more half-day rehearsal for our concert on Saturday 14th October, and we’re really enjoying the music. Last Saturday was the first in ‘seating plan’ – the point when we find out just how well we know our parts! The Jonathan Dove piece ‘Seek Him that maketh the Seven Stars’ is a highlight. We’re sung it twice before, one of which was at Westminster Abbey. In fact there’s a Westminster Abbey thread going on … it was there we first sang Andrew Carter’s ‘Wakefield Service’, which we’ll be opening the concert with. Oddly enough, when we submitted... Read More - [Concert October 2023: British Choral Classics](https://lewessingers.org.uk/concert-october-2023-british-choral-classics/): Our next concert is at St Michael’s Church in Lewes on Saturday 14 October. It will feature 20th and 21st century choral pieces by British composers, including Jonathan Dove’s Seek Him that maketh the Seven Stars, Benjamin Britten’s Hymn to St Cecilia and Lennox Berkeley Missa Brevis. OUr organ accompanist is Hamish Dustagheer. Tickets are £15 (under 18s free) from sevenstars.eventbrite.co.uk (on sale from Sept 5th) or on the door, subject to availability. - [Forthcoming events](https://lewessingers.org.uk/forthcoming-events/): We’re busy planning some exciting future events in 2024 – 25, including visits to Chichester and Ely Cathedrals, and a tour to the Netherlands. More on this to come! Meanwhile this October we are planning a concert in Lewes, featuring 20th century and contemporary British choral music. Details nearer the time. - [Christmas Concert December 2022](https://lewessingers.org.uk/christmas-concert-december-2022/): We’re delighted to be giving a full-strength concert this Christmas at St Michael’s in Lewes. It’s on Sunday 18th December at 6pm and the programme includes an eclectic mix of lovely seasonal music and carols. Joining us are five fabulous players: violinists Julia Bishop and Ally Bury with Jan Schlapp on viola, Anna Holmes on Cello and Howard Beach playing Nick’s chamber organ. It’s a bit of a dream team! They will be accompanying us in Monteverdi’s Magnificat and a few other numbers, plus playing something on their own (gives the singers a break too!) Nick and I enjoyed exploring... Read More - [Two Summer Concerts](https://lewessingers.org.uk/two-summer-concerts/): A small group of us are singing a summer concert at the end of this month, which we’re calling My Spirit Sang All Day, after the song by Gerald Finzi which is on the programme. We’re actually performing it twice – on Friday 29th July in St Nicholas Church in the lovely village of Iford just outside of Lewes, and on Saturday 30th at St Thomas’s Church in Lewes. Both concerts start at 7pm and tickets are on sale now. Profits will go towards the upkeep of the respective churches. The programme will feature a few of the madrigals and... Read More - [February concert in Lewes](https://lewessingers.org.uk/february-concert-in-lewes/): Our first concert in 2022 will be at St Michael’s Church in Lewes. It’s a fundraiser for the church, which is our primary venue for concerts and where we have been very much welcomed over the years. It’s also the church where Nick is the organist. Heading our programme will be Hubert Parry’s marvellous Songs of Farewell. Alongside this will be a selection of lovely English (and Irish, to be fair to C.V. Stanford!) madrigals and choral songs from the 16th to 20th centuries, including Wilbye’s Weep, weep mine eyes, Stanford’s The Blue Bird and the joyous My Spirit Sang all Day by Gerald Finzi.... Read More - [Christmas at St Thomas's in Lewes](https://lewessingers.org.uk/christmas-at-st-thomass-in-lewes/): We’re singing at St Thomas a Becket church in the Cliffe, Lewes, on Wednesday 8th December at 6.30pm. It’s a programme of Christmas music, carols (choir and audience) and readings. Just eleven of us are singing, directed by Nick Houghton who will be accompanying one or two of the numbers, and with Susan Bain and Peter Hanson on organ. Tickets are £10 (under 12s free), in aid of the restoration of the church’s 350-year old clock. More about the clock here! Call 01273 475320 or visit the church: Mondays 10-11am or Thursdays 2-3pm Our pieces: I saw a maiden (Pettman) A... Read More - [Westminster Abbey, 13-14 August 2021](https://lewessingers.org.uk/westminster-abbey-13-14-august-2021/): We made it! The Abbey were taking what they described as a ‘cautious’ approach – only sixteen singers permitted, single-file and masks on for processing, the men sitting two rows behind the women and no congregation allowed in the quire. It was a bit of a shame that our many family and friends who came along weren’t able to see us except on a TV screen in the transept, but at least we got to sing. Westminster Abbey is only having choral services on Friday to Sunday during the summer vacation, and we were delighted to be one of only... Read More - [Westminster Abbey visit](https://lewessingers.org.uk/westminster-abbey-visit/): Well, as far as Westminster Abbey is concerned, our August visit is ON. Of course, all our plans could be stymied yet again by the caprice of government. But if it goes ahead, this is what we’ll be singing (all 16 of us – the maximum number permitted): Friday 13th August, Evensong at 5pm Magnificat and Dunc Dimittis: Wood in D Anthem: Thou knowest Lord the secrets of our hearts Purcell Saturday 14th August, Evensong at 5pm Magnificat and Dunc Dimittis: Leighton 2nd service Anthem: Greater Love Ireland We’re meeting for a couple of rehearsals beforehand (by hook or by... Read More - [Hoping to sing at Westminster Abbey](https://lewessingers.org.uk/hoping-to-sing-at-westminster-abbey/): Nothing is certain these days. We are booked to sing Evensong at one of our favourite cathedrals, Westminster Abbey, on 13th – 14th August 2021, but are awaiting confirmation. Fingers crossed. - [We'll be back in 2021!](https://lewessingers.org.uk/well-be-back-in-2021/): It’s been a quiet year, having to cancel our trips to sing at both Westminster Abbey and Ripon cathedral. But we have plans for 2021, so we’re looking forward to singing together again soon. - [This Christmas and plans for 2020](https://lewessingers.org.uk/this-christmas-and-plans-for-2020/): In December a small group of us are taking part in the biennial fund-raising concert for Amnesty International in Lewes. It’s at St Anne’s Church on Sunday 15th December at 7pm. There’ll be many other performers – it’s always a great event and packed out.  Tickets are £12 and on sale here. Come along and enjoy! So far we have 3 gigs in 2020:  we’ll be making our fifth visit to Westminster Abbey to sing the services on the weekend of Friday 17th – Sunday 19th July, then later in the summer we’ll be at Ripon Cathedral Saturday 29th –... Read More - [Rochester Cathedral weekend 25- 26 May 2019](https://lewessingers.org.uk/rochester-cathedral-weekend-25-26-may-2019/): We’ll soon be having the first of two rehearsals prior to our visit to Rochester. We haven’t sung at Rochester Cathedral before and are looking forward to it very much.  Here’s what we’ll be singing: Saturday 25 May: Evensong 3.15pm: Annual Evensong for The French Hospital Canticles: Sumsion in G Responses: Houghton Anthem: Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine Sunday 26 May: 9.45am Mattins Canticles: Howells Collegium Regale 10.30am Eucharist Mass setting: Victoria Missa Quarti Toni Motet: Anerio Christus factus est 3.15pm Evensong Canticles: Leighton Second Service Poulenc Salve Regina Our organist will be Andrew Wilson. - [Christmas concert 2018](https://lewessingers.org.uk/christmas-concert-2018/): The hire music is on its way, the posters and flyers have arrived and the ads have been booked… really looking forward to our Christmas concert which will be on Sunday 23rd December at 6pm  at St Michael’s in Lewes – we should all be in the Christmas mood by then! We’re thrilled to be joined by world-class violinist Julia Bishop who will lead a string quartet, and Nick will join them on his chamber organ to play a lovely Handel Organ Concerto. There will of course be lots of beautiful carols, familiar and not-so familiar, including a setting of... Read More - [Rehearsing for Summer Cathedral Visits](https://lewessingers.org.uk/rehearsing-for-summer-cathedral-visits/): We’ve had one of our three rehearsals for our forthcoming cathedral visits: Westminster Abbey: our fourth visit will be from Friday 20th July evensong until Sunday 22nd evensong. Music to include Byrd 2nd service, Brewer in D, Berkeley Missa Brevis and anthems by Blitheman, Osgood and Wood. Canterbury Cathedral: our first visit to Canterbury will be the weekend of 18th and 19th August. More about the music to come. The photo above was taken at Ringmer Church before our concert there in February. - [Concerts in Eastbourne and Ringmer in February 2018](https://lewessingers.org.uk/concerts-in-eastbourne-and-ringmer-in-february-2018/): We’re giving two concerts in February 2018 and hope to see you there! Where and when: All Saints Church, Grange Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4HE on Saturday 24th February 2018 at 6pm. St Mary’s Church, Ringmer on Sunday 25th February 2018 at 3.30pm. Programme: A chance to hear three choral masterpieces of the twentieth century: Benjamin Britten’s Rojoice in the Lamb, Gerald Finzi’s Lo, the Full Final Sacrifice and Aaron Copland’s stunning In the Beginning featuring mezzo-soprano soloist Briony Lambert. We’re delighted to welcome back organist Iestyn Evans, director of music at St James’s Church, Marylebone, and former organ scholar at Westminster... Read More - [Christmas concert at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton](https://lewessingers.org.uk/christmas-concert-at-the-royal-pavilion-in-brighton/): We’re delighted to have been invited to sing in the Music Room of the Royal Pavilion, together with the Brighton Consort, in their annual Christmas charity event on December 7th. The Royal Pavilion is a magical place at Christmas, and the Music Room will be a fantastic place to sing. Our programme will include Kenneth Leighton Lully Lulla, Rutter Nativity Carol, Tavener’s The Lamb and a lovely arrangement of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.  We’ll be joining with the Consort to sing Mendelssohn’s stirring Weihnachten. Nick will also be accompanying some numbers on his chamber organ. - [Chichester Cathedral next month & 2018 plans](https://lewessingers.org.uk/chichester-cathedral-next-month-2018-plans/): We’re back at Chichester Cathedral to sing the services on September 2nd and 3rd. Two anthems by Clive Osgood, Arvo Part’s Nunc Dimittis and William Byrd’s Four Part Mass are some of the pieces we’ll be singing. We’ve had the first of our two rehearsal days and are looking forward to the weekend. Plans for 2018 are shaping up well. In February we are giving audiences another chance to hear our 2014 concert ‘Masterpieces of the 1940s’ , featuring the wonderful Briony Lambert who takes the mezzo solo role in Aaron Copland’s ‘In the beginning’. More details on our Concerts... Read More - [Clive Osgood in final of Radio 3 Carol Competition](https://lewessingers.org.uk/clive-osgood-in-final-of-radio-3-carol-competition/): Clive Osgood, one of our basses and our regular accompanist and organist is in the final 6 of BBC Radio 3’s carol competition! You can hear all the finalists here and cast your vote, voting is open until 5pm on 21 December and the winner will be announced during Radio 3’s Breakfast show on 22 December. Exciting! Listen to Clive’s carol here.. - [Singing at Winchester Cathedral next weekend](https://lewessingers.org.uk/singing-at-winchester-cathedral-next-weekend/): We’ll be singing the services at Winchester on Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th October. We’ve just had the second of our rehearsals and the music is all sounding lovely. As well as plenty of English music in the fine Anglican tradition (Sumsion in G, Howells’ Jubilate etc) we’re enjoying learning a new piece for us, Jonathan Dove’s ‘Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars’ – beautiful and ‘moderately challenging’, as it says on the back of the score! We’ll also be singing Andrew Carter’s ‘Wakefield Service’ which we sang at Westminster Abbey a few years ago. Another wonderful 20th century... Read More - [September concert - 'Faire is the Heaven'](https://lewessingers.org.uk/september-concert-faire-is-the-heaven/): We’ve a concert coming up in Lewes, at St Michael’s Church, on Saturday 26th September at 6pm. We’re calling it ‘Faire is the Heaven’ after the anthem of that name by English composer William Harris. It’s one of two Harris anthems on the programme, which also includes two of J S Bach’s mighty motets, Komm, Jesu, Komm and Lobet den Herrn, motets by Charles Villiers Stanford and the Requiem by Herbert Howells. We sang Faire is the Heaven at Westminster Abbey last month when we sang five services over three days. Tiring, but wonderful. They can seat up to a thousand people... Read More - [Gearing up for Westminster Abbey](https://lewessingers.org.uk/gearing-up-for-westminster-abbey/): It took a bit of negotiation with the Minor Canons (who decide on the music at the Abbey) but we are finally there. The music has been sent out to singers and we have a week and a half until our first rehearsal. Westminster Abbey ask visiting choirs to sing the same Introit for each service. That suits us fine, as by the time we’ve sung it for the fifth time on Sunday evening we’ve usually got it down mighty fine. Last time I remember we sang ‘Lord for thy tender mercies’ sake’ (Farrant) and it felt gorgeous. This time,... Read More - [New recording up on site](https://lewessingers.org.uk/new-recording-up-on-site/): Many thanks to Ed Hughes who made a sneaky recording of our Christmas concert! Good thing too, as we never seem to have much luck doing it ourselves. So we’ve finally got around to editing and choosing some of the best bits to put on the site. ‘Stille Nacht’ is now up on the ‘Listen’ page. There may be other extracts in due course. Hope you enjoy it! - [No room at the Inn (well, the church anyway)](https://lewessingers.org.uk/no-room-at-the-inn-well-the-church-anyway/): Hurrah! Our concert on Sunday was a sellout – we lined up extra chairs and tried to get everyone in, but I did actually have to turn about 5 or 6 people away, which was such a shame, although they took it really well. What a buzz. It was so exciting to see St Michael’s full, with all the candles, and the string quartet, it was magical. I think we sang really well, it was just so enjoyable and even the tricky moments seemed easy and wonderful, including the ‘surprise’ encore which wasn’t on the programme (OK, that was my idea!)... Read More - [Lewes Christmas Concert - programme latest](https://lewessingers.org.uk/lewes-christmas-concert-latest/): As well as the Vivaldi Gloria, there’s going to a be lovely mix of seasonal stuff at our Christmas concert. Although there’ll be several unaccompanied numbers such as John Tavener’s The Lamb and Victoria O Magnum Mysterium, some plainchant and possibly even some 20th century schmaltz (!) we’re taking advantage of having Nick’s chamber organ and a string quartet. They’ll be playing with us in numbers like Gardiner’s Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day and John Rutter’s Nativity Carol. For some pieces, Nick has to write parts for each instrument  – somehow how he’s going to find time for this around his ‘day job’ which is... Read More - [Two weeks till our first rehearsal](https://lewessingers.org.uk/two-weeks-till-our-first-rehearsal/): Putting on a concert requires a bit of planning and with ours just a month away this is the point when I try not to start worrying! My only worry is always the same one – that we won’t get a decent-sized audience! But by the time it gets to the day there’s nothing more you can do. Here’s where we are at the moment: Posters and flyers were done weeks ago, but most shops and other outlets are reluctant to put posters up until a couple of weeks before the concert. I’ve been watching other choirs get their posters up all... Read More - [Poster for Dec 21 concert - sneak preview](https://lewessingers.org.uk/poster-for-dec-21-concert-sneak-preview/): It hasn’t gone to the printers yet, but this is how it’s looking: - [Planning for the Christmas concert](https://lewessingers.org.uk/planning-for-the-christmas-concert/): The September concert went fabulously – a full audience, Briony was fantastic in ‘In the Beginning’, I managed to squeak out my ‘mouse’ solo without developing a frog in the throat, the singers gave their all. Loads of lovely compliments, such as ‘we won’t hear a better concert in this church for some time’… hopefully not too long, as we’re singing there again in December! We raised over £200 for the church repairs and a similar amount for the Lewes Singers, which all goes back into paying for players, music hire, printing, promotion and all the rest. We don’t charge members subs... Read More - [Hear us in rehearsal next Saturday](https://lewessingers.org.uk/hear-us-in-rehearsal-next-saturday/): … not that we’re not encouraging you to come to the actual concert of course! But next Saturday 13th September it’s Heritage Open Day in Lewes when several town centre buildings will open their doors for guided tours, talks and generally having a look around. One of those buildings is St Michael’s Church on the High Street, where we just happen to be having our last rehearsal prior to the concert on the following Saturday (20th). So if you drop by between 10.30 and 12.30 or 2pm and 4pm, you may well hear us. There are going to be introductory... Read More - [The story behind the poster](https://lewessingers.org.uk/the-story-behind-the-poster/): The poster for our next concert is a little different from normal. I love creating event posters but I’m not a trained graphic designer and I’m aware I can easily fall into using certain familiar styles and layouts. When it comes to classical music concerts, it’s tempting to go with something that will be instantly recognisable as a poster for another classical concert. The whole point of a poster of course is to be eyecatching – but not just that, it needs to catch the eye of the people most likely to buy. I’d be kidding myself if I said that... Read More - [Concert: Britten, Copland, Finzi, September 20th](https://lewessingers.org.uk/concert-britten-copland-finzi-september-20th/): We’ve just had our third rehearsal for our autumn concert and it’s sounding fantastic, especially our super mezzo soloist Briony Lambert who is going to be sensational in the Copland piece. There are ‘corners’ in the Copland that I’m having to listen to over and over to make sure I’m certain of landing on the right notes. It’s over 15 minutes unaccompanied, and we can’t afford to drop in pitch or not be 100% sure of our notes. We owe that much to Briony if nothing else! The way we have of singing ‘mixed up’ (in other words, we don’t... Read More - [Singing for a Healing Service this weekend](https://lewessingers.org.uk/singing-for-a-healing-service-this-weekend/): The Lewes Singers’ first outing is this Sunday 11thMay when we’ll be the choir at St Michael’s in Lewes for a special afternoon Healing Service – it will be a combination of Evensong and Compline. We’ll be singing the Wood in D Magnificat, Brahms’ Geistliches Lied, and Stanford Beati Quorum Via, all lovely. There will also be two psalms. Actually it’s a small subset of the Lewes Singers – just 9 of us, with Nick on organ but joining us for the Stanford which is unaccompanied. Andrew Robinson will conduct when Nick’s off at the organ. Yay! Looking forward to it.... Read More - [Plans for 2014 and beyond](https://lewessingers.org.uk/plans-for-2014-and-beyond/): Happy New Year! It’s been a lovely Christmas season from a concert point of view, and although we weren’t officially performing Nick did form up a vocal ‘octet’ to sing at the biennial Amnesty International Benefit Concert, ‘In the bleak Midwinter’, at St John’s Sub Castro in Lewes just before Christmas. The event was organised by Liz Taylor and Roger Fenn and was a terrific success, raising thousands for Amnesty and the Philippines appeal. We really enjoyed performing – above is a pic of us singing ‘The Three Kings’ (Cornelius) with Andrew Robinson doing a brilliant job on the solo,... Read More - [Clive Osgood's Miserere Mei - video](https://lewessingers.org.uk/clive-osgoods-miserere-mei-video/): We shot a little video at the rehearsal for our concert the other week – here’s Clive’s brilliant Miserere mei which he wrote especially for us. This is the third time we’ve performed it. Unfortunately it’s not on our CD because Nadia (essential soprano element) was away! (Excuse the quality – but it gives you a good idea of the piece though.) Here’s Clive Osgood’s website. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzuKPuH2WAo&w=420&h=315] - [Concert this Saturday in Lewes](https://lewessingers.org.uk/concert-this-saturday-in-lewes/): We’re giving an early evening concert on Saturday at St Michael’s in Lewes  – yes, 6pm start – to launch our CD. It’s a feast of English music sacred and secular. The programme includes many of the pieces from the CD, such as Stanford Beati quorum via and Walton Set me as a seal, plus some numbers sung by semi-chorus groups, one to a part (including Byrd Ave verum and Pearsall Lay a garland), which I think will add a lovely variety. You can also hear the Andrew Carter Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis which we sang at Westminster Abbey, and... Read More - [CD now on sale!](https://lewessingers.org.uk/cd-now-on-sale/): It’s been a labour of love but our CD is finally out. Full details are on this page. It’s available from Skylark (in the Needlemakers) in Lewes, online from this website and from members of the choir. Lots of lovely English music – motets/anthems and a few madrigals too. We’ll be singing some of the music from the CD at our next concert in Lewes on September 21st, together with some of the music we’re singing at Westminster Abbey at the end of the month, and also a piece written especially for the Lewes Singers by Clive Osgood, Miserere. If... Read More - [What we will sing at Westminster Abbey](https://lewessingers.org.uk/what-we-will-sing-at-westminster-abbey/): We have the first of our two rehearsals for Westminster Abbey this weekend. Because some of our members come from a distance, and to maximise the time we have together, we tend to have just two rehearsals prior to a ‘gig’, either half-days or whole days. Everyone comes having already looked at the music (if it’s new) so Nick can spend the majority of the time working on interpretation, phrasing, blending and that sort of thing, rather than learning notes. It makes for a really fun and satisfying day. If you’re in London at the end of August, do come... Read More - [Extracts from CD now on the site](https://lewessingers.org.uk/extracts-from-cd-now-on-the-site/): Our CD is now in production and we’ve posted a few extracts on our ‘listen’ page to whet your appetite. Hope you like … - [Only a week to go ...](https://lewessingers.org.uk/only-a-week-to-go/): Next weekend we’re making our first recording, over three days at Hurstpierpoint Chapel, and it’s all very exciting. Yesterday was our final rehearsal day, which went excellently according to Nick. I had to miss it as I’ve been struck down with suspected Norovirus – ugh. But we’d arranged for the fantastic Katie Vandyck to come along and take some photos, so I dragged myself out of bed for that! I couldn’t have contemplated any blogging yesterday, but after 18 hours in bed I’m feeling a tad more human. So now we have lots of lovely pics… here’s a sneaky preview.... Read More - [In rehearsal (video)](https://lewessingers.org.uk/in-rehearsal-video/): In rehearsal for the Durufle Requiem concert in November. The last movement In Paradisum accompanied by Iestyn Evans on the organ. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGKT6Rq1RUQ] - [Plans for 2013](https://lewessingers.org.uk/plans-for-2013/): Although we’re only an occasional choir we have some ambitious plans for 2013. We have not one but possibly two concerts in the pipeline, and another magical weekend planned at Westminster Abbey at the end of August. But our first project is a recording. We have a number of rehearsal days planned in January and February, and towards the end of February we’ll be spending a weekend in the chapel at Hurstpierpoint College, recording a number of pieces with the help of former BBC sound engineer Richard Davis. We’ve made plenty of unofficial recordings over the years, but we never... Read More - [Concert in Lewes](https://lewessingers.org.uk/concert-in-lewes/): This Sunday 18th November we are giving a concert at St Michael’s Church on the High Street in Lewes, at the early time of 6pm. Nick became the organist and Director of Music at St Michael’s just a couple of months ago, and already has plans for some lovely music making there. The church has the best organ in Lewes, which makes it an excellent venue to perform the Requiem by Maurice Duruflé. Our organist will be the super-talented Iestyn Evans, famous for a few years ago having performed the complete organ works of Bach in 24 hours, raising £8,000!... Read More ## Pages - [Coming up: Concert in Eastbourne](https://lewessingers.org.uk/coming-up-concert-in-eastbourne/): Seek him that maketh the seven stars The Lewes Singers make a rare appearance in Eastbourne in an afternoon concert of British choral pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries, including Benjamin Britten Hymn to the Virgin, Vaughan Williams Mass in G Minor and Jonathan Dove Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars. Directed by Nicholas Houghton, with Hamish Dustagheer (organ). Sunday 25th February at 4pm St Saviour’s Church, South Street, Eastbourne BN21 4UT Tickets £15 / under 18s free In advance from trybooking.com/uk/CVFT on the door - [WA 2021 psalm chants for learning](https://lewessingers.org.uk/wa-2021-psalm-chants-for-learning/): This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: - [Concert September 2015](https://lewessingers.org.uk/concert-sept15/): For our autumn concert we are performing some of the music we sang in July at Westminster Abbey, and more. Two Bach motets: Komm, Jesu Komm and Lobet den Herrn Three Stanford motets: Beati Quorum Via, Coelos Acendit and Justorum Animae Two anthems by William Harris: Faire is the Heaven and Bring us, O Lord Plus Herbert Howells’ Requiem. Nick Houghton will accompany some pieces and conduct from the chamber organ. He will also play two organ pieces by Herbert Howells. Saturday 26th September, 6pm (doors 5.30pm) St Michael’s Church, High Street, Lewes Tickets on sale at the Lewes Tourist Information... Read More - [Westminster Abbey, 24 - 26 July 2015](https://lewessingers.org.uk/westminster-abbey-24-26-july-2015/): The Lewes Singers will be at Westminster Abbey this weekend, do come and join in the services (or just to listen). The music will be lovely. Twitter: #lewessingers Evensong Friday 24th, 5pm: Introit: Tallis: O Nata Lux Responses & Chants for Psalms: Houghton Magnificat and Nunc dimittis: Tomkins 5th service Anthem: Stanford, Beati quorum via Evensong Saturday 25th 5pm: Introit & Responses as Friday Magnificat and Nunc dimittis: Howells, Collegium Regale Anthem: Harris, Faire is the heaven Matins Sunday 26th, 10am: Introit as Friday Jubilate and Te Deum: Stanford in C Eucharist Sunday 26th 11.15am: Mass setting: Berkeley, Missa Brevis... Read More - [What people say...](https://lewessingers.org.uk/what-people-say/): Thank you for organising and playing such beautiful music on Saturday. It was simply wonderful. The trumpeter was fantastic and the singers glorious. You made it even more moving than we ever dreamed possible. Thank you. – Nick & Ali, May 2019     - [Christmas Concert 2014 - Vivaldi 'Gloria'](https://lewessingers.org.uk/christmas-concert-2014-vivaldi-gloria/): We’re very excited about our forthcoming Christmas concert in Lewes – the central piece will be the popular Vivaldi Gloria, accompanied by single strings and conducted by Nick from his chamber organ, and led by Julia Bishop of Red Priest fame. Julia is a fine violinist and we’re delighted she agreed to play with us! Other items on the programme are: Pachelbel Canon, Corelli Christmas Concerto, Lauridsen O Magnum Mysterium, Tavener The Lamb, a lovely version of Silent Night and other carols and seasonal songs. The plan is to do it by candlelight – health & safety permitting! – and... Read More - [Concert: Sept 20th 2014](https://lewessingers.org.uk/concert-sept-20th-2014/): Saturday 20th September, 6pm, St Michael’s Church High Street, Lewes Choral Masterpieces of the 1940s Aaron Copland, In the Beginning Benjamin Britten, Rejoice in the Lamb Gerald Finzi, Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice Conductor: Nicholas Houghton Organ: Roger Sayer Mezzo Soprano: Briony Lambert Tickets £9, under 19s free Available from choir members or call 01273 472489 to reserve, or on the door. - [Buy our CD](https://lewessingers.org.uk/buy-the-cd/): The Lewes Singers, ‘English Madrigals and Motets from 16th to 20th century’ Price £8, plus £1 postage & packing (UK) If you are outside the UK or would like to order multiple copies, please drop us an email for a shipping quote – many thanks. Track listing: 1     I was glad – Henry Purcell 4.24 2     Remember not, Lord, our offences – Henry Purcell 3.08 3     When David heard – Thomas Weelkes 4.05 4     Gloria in excelsis deo – Thomas Weelkes 3.41 5     A prayer for peace – David Lord 1.54 6... Read More - [Music for WA](https://lewessingers.org.uk/music-for-wa/): This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: - [Contact](https://lewessingers.org.uk/contact/): To contact the Lewes Singers, email info@lewessingers.org.uk. - [Listen](https://lewessingers.org.uk/listen/):   Recorded live at Evensong in Rochester Cathedral, 25th May 2019:Faure, Cantique de Jean Racine (Organ: Andrew Wilson) Psalm 126, chant by Nicholas Houghton:   Video of The Lewes Singers performing CV Stanford The Blue Bird, with soloist Nadia Bunker: Recorded live at out Christmas Concert December 2020 at St Thomas’s Church in Lewes, with only nine singers and all socially distanced! (Recordings by Terry Donoghue): Victoria, O Magnum Mysterium Trad, Away in a Manger Leighton, The Christ-child Lay (solo Liz Kelly) Poston, Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (solo Sally Moss Tallon) Gardner, Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day Recorded... Read More - [Need singers?](https://lewessingers.org.uk/need-singers/): If you need some lovely music for a wedding or function, from a quartet to a full choir, we can help. Nick is an experienced consultant for weddings and can suggest music (including hymns), supply singers and musicians and direct everything on the day. Please book your music as early as possible – although it is occasionally possible to book singers at short notice, ideally we need to know at least 3 months in advance of your date! This is especially true if the event falls at Christmas or during the summer holidays. Call Robin on 07888 693525 or email... Read More - [Concerts](https://lewessingers.org.uk/concerts/): Forthcoming concerts Our biennial Christmas concert at St Michael’s Church in Lewes will take place on Sunday 22nd December 2024 at 6pm. More details on the blog… In May 2024 we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the choir with a tour to the Netherlands, giving a concert in Leiden and singing Evensong in The Hague. Past concerts On February 25 2024 we sang our concert ‘Seek Him that maketh the Seven Stars’ at St Saviour’s Church, Eastbourne. The concert featured many of the pieces we sang in Lewes in October 2023, and Hamish Dustagheer was once more be our organist.... Read More - [Cathedral Visits](https://lewessingers.org.uk/cathedral-visits/): Cathedral Visits & Tours Forthcoming: On Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th July 2025  we shall be singing the services at Ely Cathedral. Past: In May 2024 we toured to the Netherlands, singing a concert of English music at the Lokhorstkerk, Leiden on Saturday 25 May, and Evensong in The Hague on Sunday 26 May, together with the Hague-based New Choral Singers. We were delighted to make our fifth visit to Westminster Abbey to sing Evensong on 13th & 14th August 2021. Only sixteen singers were permitted, and we had to leave an empty row between the women and the men,... Read More - [About us](https://lewessingers.org.uk/about-us/): The Lewes Singers is a small, occasional choir directed by  Nicholas Houghton, formed in 2004 by Nick and his wife Robin. We sing services at cathedrals, sometimes perform concerts and fund-raisers, and are available for weddings and functions. Although we’re based in Lewes, East Sussex, some our members travel from London, Hampshire and Essex to sing with us. We are experienced amateur singers although some members are professional or semi-professional musicians.  From a pool of about 30 members we usually field a choir of between 16 and 22 singers for a concert or cathedral visit. For weddings, a smaller group... Read More [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)