Ashdown Singers

The Ashdown Singers, a chamber choir of some twenty-five voices, gave their first performances in 1976. The aim at the choir’s formation was to have a group of experienced singers capable of performing major works and yet also able to sing madrigals and part-songs in an intimate and authentic manner. The choir is essentially a five part unit as much repertoire needs two soprano lines, but frequently divides further to sing pieces for double choir in eight or more parts.

Performances have included Classical Masses by Haydn, Mozart, Dvorak and Schubert and have ranged in style and scale from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (performed in Brighton in 2008 with The Prince Regent’s Musicians) to demanding twentieth-century repertoire such as the Requiems of Maurice Durufle and the Canadian composer Eleanor Daley.

Charitable work is an essential part of the choir’s ethos. Over the years many thousands of pounds have been raised for local and national charities and causes. Singers are drawn from across East Sussex; the choir is equally at home performing in village churches or cathedrals and concert halls, and has broadcast on local radio.