St Albans Bach Choir

Since its founding in 1924 it has performed a wide range of choral music including but by no means limited to the great Bach masterpieces.

285602[4] Formed in 1924, the choir's first concert in April of that year consisted of a performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion under Mr Luttman.

In alternate years the Summer concert is normally one of the major events in the biennial St Albans International Organ Festival.

[11] In 1987, Sir David Willcocks conducted the choir in the world premier of the final revised version of Howard Blake's Benedictus.

[12] In 2013, 2015 and again in 2019, the choir was invited by John Rutter CBE to take part in his hugely popular Royal Albert Hall Christmas Concerts.

[13][14] Also at the Royal Albert Hall, the choir has twice been invited by the BBC to take part in the Songs of Praise Big Sing, broadcast nationally.

Whilst a core component of the choir's repertoire includes J. S. Bach's three major choral works (St Matthew Passion, St John Passion and Mass in B minor), one of which is traditionally performed roughly every 2 years, it also extends from Monteverdi (Vespers of 1610, last performed in 1974) to the late 20th Century.

[18] In 1987, the choir gave the first performance of the final revised version of Howard Blake Benedictus, conducted by Sir David Willcocks.