Past Concerts
Below you can get a a flavour of the range of our programmes, season by season. You can also hear some examples of our singing on our HEAR US page.
2017/2018 Season
Music for the Madonna (new venue and change of date)
Why not take a break away from Cambridge’s crowded summer streets, full of tourists and shoppers, for some gentle mid-afternoon contemplation? This short concert will feature beautiful French choral music guaranteed to transport your mind miles away from the hustle and bustle outside. The programme will include Poulenc’s extraordinary Mass in G and motets by Duruflé and others.
Sunday 20 May 3pm, St Botolph's Church, Cambridge CB2 1QA
Why not take a break away from Cambridge’s crowded summer streets, full of tourists and shoppers, for some gentle mid-afternoon contemplation? This short concert will feature beautiful French choral music guaranteed to transport your mind miles away from the hustle and bustle outside. The programme will include Poulenc’s extraordinary Mass in G and motets by Duruflé and others.
Sunday 20 May 3pm, St Botolph's Church, Cambridge CB2 1QA
Stabat Mater
Passiontide has been fertile ground for composers through the ages. Alongside motets from the Renaissance and early 20th centuries, the concert will also feature two significant works, each very much of its time. Domenico Scarlatti’s Stabat Mater (1715) is a masterpiece of the choral repertoire, full of meditation and reflection, but also with drama provided by soloists emerging from the choir. In contrast, but equally powerfully, we will also be singing James Macmillan’s Cantos Sagrados (Sacred Songs, 1989), which combines sacred and secular texts highlighting political repression in South America.
Saturday 24 March 8pm
Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge, CB2 1TQ
By kind permission of the Master and Fellows of Trinity College
Passiontide has been fertile ground for composers through the ages. Alongside motets from the Renaissance and early 20th centuries, the concert will also feature two significant works, each very much of its time. Domenico Scarlatti’s Stabat Mater (1715) is a masterpiece of the choral repertoire, full of meditation and reflection, but also with drama provided by soloists emerging from the choir. In contrast, but equally powerfully, we will also be singing James Macmillan’s Cantos Sagrados (Sacred Songs, 1989), which combines sacred and secular texts highlighting political repression in South America.
Saturday 24 March 8pm
Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge, CB2 1TQ
By kind permission of the Master and Fellows of Trinity College
Christus Natus Est
Our celebration of Christmas this year will include Poulenc’s hauntingly beautiful Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noel and Stanford’s exuberant double-choir Latin Magnificat, as well as popular and less well-known carols and Christmas music. The programme will also include the world première of Margaret Haley’s A Fisherman’s Baby, runner-up in our Composition Competition last season.
Sunday 10 December 4pm
St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Newmarket, CB8 0HP
Thursday 14 December 7.30pm
Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RR
With King’s Junior Voices, directed by Lynette Alcántara
Our celebration of Christmas this year will include Poulenc’s hauntingly beautiful Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noel and Stanford’s exuberant double-choir Latin Magnificat, as well as popular and less well-known carols and Christmas music. The programme will also include the world première of Margaret Haley’s A Fisherman’s Baby, runner-up in our Composition Competition last season.
Sunday 10 December 4pm
St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Newmarket, CB8 0HP
Thursday 14 December 7.30pm
Emmanuel United Reformed Church, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RR
With King’s Junior Voices, directed by Lynette Alcántara
In the Beginning
For our first concert of the season, we find inspiration for our music from Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and the United States. The centrepieces of our concert are Kodaly’s expressive Missa Brevis and Copland’s scintillating setting of the opening of the book of Genesis, and these are offered alongside two contrasting settings of the Lord’s Prayer: one by Janáček, for choir, organ and harp, and a real jewel of a version by the Russian conductor-composer Nikolai Golovanov.
Saturday 18 November Church of Our Lady & the English Martyrs, Cambridge, CB2 1JR
Saturday 11 November 7.30pm The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Coach Drive, Harlton, CB23 1EN
For our first concert of the season, we find inspiration for our music from Russia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and the United States. The centrepieces of our concert are Kodaly’s expressive Missa Brevis and Copland’s scintillating setting of the opening of the book of Genesis, and these are offered alongside two contrasting settings of the Lord’s Prayer: one by Janáček, for choir, organ and harp, and a real jewel of a version by the Russian conductor-composer Nikolai Golovanov.
Saturday 18 November Church of Our Lady & the English Martyrs, Cambridge, CB2 1JR
Saturday 11 November 7.30pm The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Coach Drive, Harlton, CB23 1EN
Rachmaninov All-Night Vigil (Vespers)
Rachmaninov transforms the plainchant melodies of the Orthodox Church into an incredible symphony of choral writing, offering staggering textural intricacy and emotional power, showing a composition genius at the height of his powers. The evocative chant-link melodies and legendary low bass writing are bound to be all the more atmospheric in the beautiful surroundings of a candlelit St Martin’s.
View the website here
Thursday 28 September 9.30pm
St Martin-in-the Fields, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ
In partnership with the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London.
View the website here
Thursday 28 September 9.30pm
St Martin-in-the Fields, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ
In partnership with the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London.
2016/2017 Season
Rachmaninov: Cello Sonata and Vespers
Graham Walker, Director and cello
Marie-Noëlle Kendall piano
The soaring melodies and gorgeous harmonies of Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata come from the same rich vein as his incredibly popular Second Piano Concerto, whilst the Vespers show a compositional genius at the height of his powers. In these fifteen short movements he transforms the plainchant melodies of the Orthodox Church into an incredible symphony of choral writing, offering staggering textural intricacy and emotional power.
Saturday 24 June 2017 at 8.00pm
Jesus College Chapel by kind permission of the Master and Fellows of Jesus College
Cambridge CB5 8BL
Saturday 1 July 2017 at 7.30pm
St Vigor's Church, Fulbourn CB21 5BN
Graham Walker, Director and cello
Marie-Noëlle Kendall piano
The soaring melodies and gorgeous harmonies of Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata come from the same rich vein as his incredibly popular Second Piano Concerto, whilst the Vespers show a compositional genius at the height of his powers. In these fifteen short movements he transforms the plainchant melodies of the Orthodox Church into an incredible symphony of choral writing, offering staggering textural intricacy and emotional power.
Saturday 24 June 2017 at 8.00pm
Jesus College Chapel by kind permission of the Master and Fellows of Jesus College
Cambridge CB5 8BL
Saturday 1 July 2017 at 7.30pm
St Vigor's Church, Fulbourn CB21 5BN
Renaissance Reimagined
New Cambridge Singers, with Newe Vialles
The Guildhall Sackbutts and Cornetts, Directed by Jeremy West
A programme ranging over five centuries of choral music, sung here by different combinations of voices, viols and Renaissance brass instruments. The centrepiece of the concert is Giles Swayne’s Everybloom; taking words from Joyce’s Ulysses, this work is written for choir, soloists and a consort of viols. The programme will also include Tallis' amazing 40-part motet Spem in alium and works by two other Renaissance masters: William Byrd and Orlande de Lassus..
To give you, the audience, a closer insight into all of this, you will have the chance to take part in two very different works: Tallis’ famous canon Glory to thee, my God, this night, and a new work for which NCS has held an open competition. Information about the competition and the winner is available here. The audience will be joining the choir for a rehearsal in the afternoon. If you are a singer with some choral experience, we would be delighted to welcome you to join us in our performances.
New Cambridge Singers, with Newe Vialles
The Guildhall Sackbutts and Cornetts, Directed by Jeremy West
A programme ranging over five centuries of choral music, sung here by different combinations of voices, viols and Renaissance brass instruments. The centrepiece of the concert is Giles Swayne’s Everybloom; taking words from Joyce’s Ulysses, this work is written for choir, soloists and a consort of viols. The programme will also include Tallis' amazing 40-part motet Spem in alium and works by two other Renaissance masters: William Byrd and Orlande de Lassus..
To give you, the audience, a closer insight into all of this, you will have the chance to take part in two very different works: Tallis’ famous canon Glory to thee, my God, this night, and a new work for which NCS has held an open competition. Information about the competition and the winner is available here. The audience will be joining the choir for a rehearsal in the afternoon. If you are a singer with some choral experience, we would be delighted to welcome you to join us in our performances.
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Renaissance Reimagined was made possible by grants from Arts Council England's Grants for the Arts and the RVW Trust, and by contributions to our New Music Fund and the New Cambridge Songs Scheme
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The Big Sing - Handel's Messiah
Come and Sing!
Messiah remains justifiably the most popular English choral work, ranging in mood from the poignant Behold the Lamb of God to the roof raising Hallelujah. If you’ve sung it before you’ll know how wonderful it is to be involved in Messiah; if not, then this is the ideal opportunity to perform it for the first time. The performance will be with full orchestra and a team of soloists from New Cambridge Singers. Book early to avoid disappointment. We will provide vocal scores if you need one, but please bring a copy of Watkins Shaw edition if you have it.
Come and Sing!
Messiah remains justifiably the most popular English choral work, ranging in mood from the poignant Behold the Lamb of God to the roof raising Hallelujah. If you’ve sung it before you’ll know how wonderful it is to be involved in Messiah; if not, then this is the ideal opportunity to perform it for the first time. The performance will be with full orchestra and a team of soloists from New Cambridge Singers. Book early to avoid disappointment. We will provide vocal scores if you need one, but please bring a copy of Watkins Shaw edition if you have it.
Saturday 21 January 2017
Great St Mary's Church
Cambridge
Great St Mary's Church
Cambridge
Victorian Christmas by Candlelight
Many of our cherished Christmas traditions began in Victorian times, so get in the mood and join us for our festive performance of music from the Victorian era, atmospherically lit by candles around the church. There will be some carols for all the audience to join in.
Many of our cherished Christmas traditions began in Victorian times, so get in the mood and join us for our festive performance of music from the Victorian era, atmospherically lit by candles around the church. There will be some carols for all the audience to join in.
Saturday 10 December 2016 St Mary's Church, Burwell
Tuesday 13 December 2016 Great St Mary's Church, Concert in partnership with East Anglian Air Ambulance
Tuesday 13 December 2016 Great St Mary's Church, Concert in partnership with East Anglian Air Ambulance
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Fauré Requiem
Exploring the beautiful tradition of French choral music, this programme contrasts the sumptuous harmonies of Poulenc’s exquisite a cappella motets for men’s voices with the imposing grandeur of Vierne’s only Mass setting and the intimate intensity of Fauré’s ever-popular Requiem. Saturday 12 November 2016 Fordham Saturday 19 November 2016 OLEM, Cambridge |
 Photo credit cambridge2000.com
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"The New Cambridge Singers absolutely slayed it yesterday evening! The Missa Solemnis by Vierne was amazing and gave me shivers."
"The concert was lovely – the Poulenc was new to us, and very impressive, and the Faure was magnificent – it’s the first time I’ve heard it with the organ rather than an orchestra. The singing was brilliant. Thanks for a great evening – we came away feeling positively uplifted!"
and a lady on the way out simply said 'ethereal'.
2015/2016 Season
A concert of choral favouritesChoral favourites from across the centuries are presented in a smorgasbord of popular classics for choir. Mendelssohn’s justly famous O for the Wings of a Dove and Parry’s majestic setting of I was Glad – sung at the Royal wedding in 2011, as well as every coronation since 1902 – provide a contrast with madrigals and partsongs from early to modern times. The concert will conclude with choral arrangements of popular songs from the twenties and thirties by Cole Porter and friends.
Saturday 2 July 2016 – St Mary’s Church, Newmarket Saturday 25 June 2016 – Great St Mary’s Church, Cambridge |
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Mozart Requiem and Mendelssohn Violin ConcertA wonderful evening of classical masterpieces - the exuberance of Mozart’s Figaro Overture and the tragedy of his Requiem are set alongside the lyrical eloquence of one of the greatest of the Romantic violin concertos.
Saturday 7 May 2016 – Great St Mary’s Church, Cambridge Julia Hwang, Violin and the New Cambridge Players |
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This Worldes Joie:
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An Elizabethan Christmas
Christmas Elizabethan-style, with works by Gibbons, Tallis and Byrd contrasting with familiar melodies from Piae Cantiones , a volume first published during Elizabeth’s reign but rediscovered much more recently. Festive refreshments will complement what promises to be an entertaining and informative evening. Saturday 12 December – St James’ Church, Hemingford Grey Tuesday 15 December – Corpus Christi College Chapel |
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Songs of Love and Loss
Music for Choir and Piano by Faure, Schubert, Brahms and Britten New Cambridge Singers begins its new season with an exploration of music for choir and piano for two and four hands. Interesting and unusual works by Schubert and Britten are presented alongside the ever-popular Liebeslieder Waltzes and Faure’s Madrigal. The choir is joined by Maurice and Thanea Hodges, who as well as accompanying the choir will perform two intriguing works for piano duet. Saturday 7 November – St Mary’s Church, Ashwell Saturday 15 November – Emmanuel United Reform Church, Cambridge |
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2014/15 Season
Haydn and Duruflé
Saturday 20 June – St John’s College Chapel, Cambridge
New Cambridge Singers and East Anglia Chamber Orchestra join forces for the first time in a performance of Haydn’s thrilling Nelson Mass and Duruflé’s achingly beautiful Requiem. Soloists Helen-Jane Howells, Lynette Alcántara, Stefan Kennedy and Alex Ashworth will join the choir and orchestra on stage in what promises to be an exhilarating and memorable concert.
One Equal Music
Music for double choir by Bach, Martin, Harris and Lassus
Saturday 28 March – Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge
Sunday 29 March – St Vigor’s Church, Fulbourn
A programme of exquisite music for double choir. Two of Bach’s motets, the joyful Singet dem Herrn and the yearning Komm, Jesu, Komm, are contrasted with two classics by Sir William Harris: Faire is the Heaven and Bring us, O Lord. Contrasting mass settings by Lassus and the 20th-century Swiss composer Frank Marin complete the programme.
Songs of Celebration
An hour of glorious choral music from Byrd to Finzi
Saturday 14 February – St Edward’s Church, Cambridge
This hour-long afternoon concert presents a selection of celebratory music in a wide variety of styles. Finzi’s well-known God is Gone Up and The Heavens are Telling from Haydn’s Creation are performed alongside Ascensiontide motets by Byrd and works by Handel, Monteverdi, Bach and Vaughan Williams.
Christmas through the Ages
Christmas music for choir and organ from the 14th to the 20th century
Saturday 13 December – St Peter & St Paul Church, Steeple Morden
Thursday 18 December – Little St Mary’s Church, Cambridge
A panorama of festive music from Mediaeval to the present. We begin with works by anonymous 14th-century composers; move through Byrd to Bach, Schutz an beyond to Bruckner and Berlioz; and conclude with an exploration of 20th -century Christmas music from Europe and the USA.
Hear my Prayer
Sunday 16 November – Sidney Sussex College Chapel, Cambridge
The Psalms of David have provided inspiration to musicians and composers across the centuries. In this programme, NCS explores settings of psalms both joyful and sorrowful, by composers as diverse as Byrd, Schutz, Allegri and Mendelssohn. Two settings of Psalm 90, by Vaughan Williams and Ives, open and close the concert.
Choral Favourites
Saturday 15 November – St Andrew’s Centre, Histon
One of the first events to be held in Histon’s new community centre – this concert features Allegri’s Miserere, Mendelssohn’s Hear my Prayer, and other deservedly favourite works by Bach, Byrd, Finzi, Gibbons, Harris, Rachmaninov and Stanford.
2013/14 Season
June 2014
Summer concert
Sacred music by Byrd, Stanford and Howells as well as secular music by McCabe, Finzi and a few Colombian songs!
February 2014
An hour long concert of music by Byrd and Rachmaninov.
December 2013
Christmas concert: Out of Darkness
Telling of the Christmas story with wonderful music through the ages
November 2013
A programme of French masterpieces including Duruflé’s Requiem, Langlais’ Messe Solenelle, Poulenc’s Litanies a la Vierge Noire and Messiaen’s O Sacrum Convivium.
Haydn and Duruflé
Saturday 20 June – St John’s College Chapel, Cambridge
New Cambridge Singers and East Anglia Chamber Orchestra join forces for the first time in a performance of Haydn’s thrilling Nelson Mass and Duruflé’s achingly beautiful Requiem. Soloists Helen-Jane Howells, Lynette Alcántara, Stefan Kennedy and Alex Ashworth will join the choir and orchestra on stage in what promises to be an exhilarating and memorable concert.
One Equal Music
Music for double choir by Bach, Martin, Harris and Lassus
Saturday 28 March – Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge
Sunday 29 March – St Vigor’s Church, Fulbourn
A programme of exquisite music for double choir. Two of Bach’s motets, the joyful Singet dem Herrn and the yearning Komm, Jesu, Komm, are contrasted with two classics by Sir William Harris: Faire is the Heaven and Bring us, O Lord. Contrasting mass settings by Lassus and the 20th-century Swiss composer Frank Marin complete the programme.
Songs of Celebration
An hour of glorious choral music from Byrd to Finzi
Saturday 14 February – St Edward’s Church, Cambridge
This hour-long afternoon concert presents a selection of celebratory music in a wide variety of styles. Finzi’s well-known God is Gone Up and The Heavens are Telling from Haydn’s Creation are performed alongside Ascensiontide motets by Byrd and works by Handel, Monteverdi, Bach and Vaughan Williams.
Christmas through the Ages
Christmas music for choir and organ from the 14th to the 20th century
Saturday 13 December – St Peter & St Paul Church, Steeple Morden
Thursday 18 December – Little St Mary’s Church, Cambridge
A panorama of festive music from Mediaeval to the present. We begin with works by anonymous 14th-century composers; move through Byrd to Bach, Schutz an beyond to Bruckner and Berlioz; and conclude with an exploration of 20th -century Christmas music from Europe and the USA.
Hear my Prayer
Sunday 16 November – Sidney Sussex College Chapel, Cambridge
The Psalms of David have provided inspiration to musicians and composers across the centuries. In this programme, NCS explores settings of psalms both joyful and sorrowful, by composers as diverse as Byrd, Schutz, Allegri and Mendelssohn. Two settings of Psalm 90, by Vaughan Williams and Ives, open and close the concert.
Choral Favourites
Saturday 15 November – St Andrew’s Centre, Histon
One of the first events to be held in Histon’s new community centre – this concert features Allegri’s Miserere, Mendelssohn’s Hear my Prayer, and other deservedly favourite works by Bach, Byrd, Finzi, Gibbons, Harris, Rachmaninov and Stanford.
2013/14 Season
June 2014
Summer concert
Sacred music by Byrd, Stanford and Howells as well as secular music by McCabe, Finzi and a few Colombian songs!
February 2014
An hour long concert of music by Byrd and Rachmaninov.
December 2013
Christmas concert: Out of Darkness
Telling of the Christmas story with wonderful music through the ages
November 2013
A programme of French masterpieces including Duruflé’s Requiem, Langlais’ Messe Solenelle, Poulenc’s Litanies a la Vierge Noire and Messiaen’s O Sacrum Convivium.