The New Chamber Choir is based in the Sheffield City Region of England, and draws its members from across Yorkshire and Derbyshire. NCC was formed in 2013 by a group of friends and musicians who had sung together in various other choirs across the region – some in church or chapel choirs, some in specialist early music groups, and some in large choral ensembles. We wanted to create a choir which would ‘have a go at anything’ – which could switch from medieval plainsong to jazz, or from madrigals to musicals. We wanted the challenge of mastering a really varied repertoire, and we wanted to share our enjoyment with as large an audience as possible.
Singers are invited to join NCC: they all sing in other choirs, all read music, and bring a wealth of varied musical experiences. The group meets for ‘workshop days’ every few weeks and uses these days to explore and develop the repertoire.
Most of the choir’s repertoire is unaccompanied choral music, with all the voices or with smaller groups or soloists, but increasingly we make use of piano, organ or harpsichord accompaniment and we use other instruments whenever they are available.
We have given a number of joint concerts:
- with ‘Amber Bells’, a handbell consort based in the Peak District
- with ‘Sarentino Strings’, a Sheffield-based string quartet
- with the Northern Bell Orchestra – an ensemble of over 30 handbell players drawn from across the North of England
- with soloists on organ, trumpet and on harp.
Another recent development has seen us providing the music for themed concerts of music and readings. We have a developing relationship with Sheffield University Drama Society.
NCC has given concerts across the region, including for the National Trust, for the Friends of the Peak District, and for the Buxton Festival fringe – the full concert list is in the ‘Archive’ section of this website. We have sung traditional Anglican Evensong, and full choral Mass. We love to sing in historic settings: we sing regularly in the magnificent Chapel (‘a cathedral in miniature’) in Clumber Park, and in 2023 we sing in the Tudor splendour of the Great Hall at Haddon Hall, and in the stunning Painted Saloon at Wentworth Woodhouse.
In 2015 and 2017 the choir undertook foreign tours, giving a series of concerts in northern Provence. As a result of those tours we have a working relationship with M. Cigalier, a contemporary Dutch/French composer whose works the group has premiered.
We are always on the lookout for new opportunities and places to sing. Do get in touch (via the contact form on this website) if you would like us to come and sing for your organisation, club or church. If you are interested in singing with us, contact the Director (again, via the contact form) and arrange to come and meet us for an initial informal chat.