Beckenham Chorale was founded as the Manor Choir in 1960 by Ken Straker, London manager of the music publisher Ricordi and Co. He was succeeded in 1964 by Lionel Sawkins as conductor, with John Nightingale as accompanist. During this period the repertoire included much French baroque music, a particular specialism of Sawkins.
In 1967, to reflect the choir’s local identity, the name was changed to Beckenham Chorale. As well as concerts at St George’s Church, the Chorale also performed in Central London, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and at the English Bach Festival in Oxford. In the late 60s the Beckenham (later Bromley) Summer Choral Festival evolved with several local choirs joining forces to promote large-scale concerts. The Chorale remained an integral part of the Festival which continued until 2004, presenting great works such as Elgar The Dream of Gerontius, Walton Belshazzar’s Feast and Mahler Symphony No 8 at the Fairfield Hall in Croydon.
James Blair was appointed conductor of Beckenham Chorale in 1977, bringing with him an established reputation as the conductor of the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra. During 38 years, in more than 100 concerts, he conducted many highly acclaimed performances of the great choral works, including Bach B minor Mass, Rossini Stabat Mater, Tippett A Child of our Time and Verdi Requiem, supported by the Albemarle Orchestra, many of whom had YMSO connections. To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Chorale commissioned Ronald Corp’s Magnificat setting Mary’s Song.
Beckenham Chorale James Blair 100th Concert 25th February 1984
From 2013 to 2016 Adam Treadaway, as Assistant Conductor and then Musical Director, broadened the repertoire, introducing more unaccompanied works and contemporary pieces. He conducted a memorable performance of Britten’s cantata Saint Nicolas and a lively programme of Italian music with the period instrument orchestra Sinfonia Britannica, led by Simon Standage.
Since 2016 the Chorale has been led by Musical Director Mark Griffiths. Under his direction the choir celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in November 2019 with a performance of Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, together with Coro London Chamber Choir and St Paul’s Sinfonia. In March 2020 the O Radiant Dawn concert featured music by Jonathan Dove, Thomas Tallis, Judith Weir and four of James MacMillan’s Strathclyde Motets. Within days of that concert, Covid-19 would change all our lives. During lockdown the Chorale worked hard to keep members connected, with regular Zoom rehearsals and a weekly email newsletter, Tuesday Treats. Although our planned 60th Anniversary celebrations had to be cancelled, we marked the occasion with a successful online event, a Christmas Special, three quizzes, and a Zoom Desert Island Discs, with our Musical Director in the chair and our Chair posing the questions.
Over more than 60 years the Chorale has performed music from all periods, from Monteverdi and Bach, through Handel, Haydn and Mozart, to Brahms, Dvořák, Elgar and Vaughan Williams, as well as works by contemporary composers including John Rutter, Howard Goodall, Sir James MacMillan, Morten Lauridsen and Sir Karl Jenkins. In 2011 John Rutter led a choral workshop at St George’s Church for over 300 singers, followed in 2015 by a singing day with former King’s Singer Brian Kay.
The Chorale has been fortunate to work with many distinguished soloists, among them Emma Kirkby, Harry Christophers, Dame Felicity Lott, David Wilson-Johnson, Elin Manahan Thomas, Mary Bevan, Emma Walshe, Jonathan Brown, cellist Robert Cohen, clarinettist Emma Johnson and pianist Richard Pearce.
John Nightingale has been closely associated with the Chorale since 1963, serving as accompanist on piano or harpsichord in numerous concerts, Chorus Master for almost 20 years, and conductor of the Chorale’s popular Christmas Carol concerts. He and fellow accompanist Janet Bishop, who was with the Chorale for 25 years, both retired in 2020. In recognition of their outstanding contributions, John Nightingale and Lionel Sawkins were appointed Honorary Life Vice-Presidents. We were very sad to hear of Lionel Sawkins’ death in 2025.