South West England’s Premier Choir
Founded in 1970, our 150-plus members perform a variety of music in Plymouth and elsewhere in the country and abroad. We have won widespread acclaim and concerts often include world-class soloists and musicians. 'In the top 10% of amateur choirs in the UK' says internationally renowned tenor and choir Patron Neil Jenkins.
Next Concert
An evening of beautiful choral music, with a seafaring theme that fits perfectly with the Mayflower 400 celebrations in Plymouth during 2020.
STOP PRESS
As a grand finale to our anniversary year, we have added a fourth concert. We will be performing the magnificent Handel’s Messiah at Plymouth Guildhall on Sunday 13th December 2020.
Watch this space for details.
Celebrate the Choir’s 50th Anniversary!
2020 is a very special year for Plymouth Philharmonic Choir. Join us for three concerts to celebrate our 50th anniversary year.
Details of each concert can be found on the Concerts and Workshop tab above.
JOIN OUR BIG SING
Everyone welcome – book now!
You can help us celebrate our anniversary in 2020, by joining an extra special workshop “The Big Sing” led by our very own Musical Director Christopher Fletcher. This is very much open to everyone and as it is such a special occasion it will be at the special price of just £10. We have booked Plymouth Guildhall for Saturday 16 May so mark it in your diary. To be kept informed please email us with your contact details here: pacornish@btinternet.com
Alternatively call Pauline on 01752 346563
SUMMER 50th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
Sunday 5 July
7:30pm
at Plymouth Guildhall
PAUL FOSTER: The Lodestone of Love
STANFORD:
Songs of the Sea
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS:
Sea Songs March
Conductor:
Christopher Fletcher
Soloists:
Catherine Hamilton
Darren Jeffery
A specially commissioned piece by Plymouth composer Paul Foster to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the sailing from Plymouth of the Mayflower.
WINTER CONCERT
Sunday 29 November
7:30pm
at Plymouth Guildhall
KARL JENKINS:
The Armed Man
JOHN RUTTER: Magnificat
Conductor:
Christopher Fletcher
Soloists: TBA
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is the most performed work by any living composer.
John Rutter’s Magnificat weaves a magical spell of balm and peace.
Tickets will be available from choir members, online at wegottickets.com and from outlets in Plymouth and Tavistock in the run up to each concert.
COMMENTS FOLLOWING RECENT CONCERTS
Feedback on our December 2019 concert of Haydn’s Creation
From an audience member
Just a line to say we all (8 in our group and others we spoke to) thoroughly enjoyed PPC’s concert last night. It was splendidly performed. Choir and orchestra in perfect harmony with soloists who were terrific and obviously enjoying the performance as much as we were. Always a good sign.
From Catherine Hamilton – soprano soloist
I thought the choir did a wonderful job and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Glad the feedback from the audience was so appreciative and really look forward to singing with you all again next year.
From Darren Jeffery – bass baritone soloist
Thanks so much for a lovely concert again last night. I always look forward to performing with the choir. My parents enjoyed the performance and wanted me to pass on their thanks.
Previous comments
Brian Gerry, Plymouth Philharmonic Choir President
“The choir was just fantastic and the overall detail you brought to this work was such a pleasure to listen to. A truly splendid achievement. I am always proud of what the Philharmonic Choir achieves and at the end of the performance I was lost for words – possibly a first for me!!!”
From former chairman Paul Baldry (on his retirement from the choir due to ill health)
I have so many varied memories of wonderful days and hours of music, deep friendships, planning visits to sing with other choirs, and particularly with the Royal Marine teams at HMS Raleigh.
Please do give my very best wishes and deep appreciation to everyone, especially Christopher and Jenny Shepley, with their dedicated, professional music skills leading everyone forward.
From a choir member
It’s changed my life for the better.
“The choir were superb. As their new President I’d like to congratulate them all. The one word that springs to mind was moving. It was a sweeping arch of sound.” Brian Gerry
“I’m really proud to be part of this wonderful choir. Christopher works us hard but look at the results! Fantastic and memorable evening of amazing soloists and orchestra too.”
Kathryn Slater, choir member
Comments overheard on the way out after a concert:
“What an achievement. The harmonies were fabulous.”
To a choir member “You look exhausted. How’s the voice?” “What voice?” she croaked.
“It was so moving and everyone put in a hundred and ten percent.”
“That soprano was terrific.”
“To my untutored ears it was fantastic.”
“Absolutely magic – so powerful.”
“I’m knackered!” (said by a choir member)
CHOIR NEWS
We were invited to sing with Irish superstar Daniel O'Donnell. See a gallery of photos from the evening on our Facebook page.
The Herald produced a splendid feature about our choir interviewing our youngest and one of our oldest members. They have an age difference of 75 years! It also reveals just…
CHORAL WORKSHOP
WITH DAVID LAWRENCE
Our 2019 choral workshop with David Lawrence was a huge success, and we have asked him to return in 2021. For those who weren’t there, we thought we’d share some of David Lawrence’s advice on singing technique … and also some of his wit …!!
- Open the back of your mouth wide and say “The space at the back of my mouth”, then sing as if you were singing out behind you. This opens the pharyngeal space, whereas singing forward creates a constricted space and forces the voice.
- David got us to sing a closely harmonised phrase from the Little Jazz Mass with our eyes closed to emphasise the need to listen to each other – this was really effective.
- David encouraged the altos to use their controlled vibrato to add richness of tone when singing forte at the top of our range – this earned us a round of applause.
- Don’t drop your head when singing a low note and use the same face whether you’re singing high or low in your range.
- To improve our diction, he got us to sing with our finger in our mouth and make the tongue work harder.
- When you breathe in, imagine wearing a belt of noses around your waist.
