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Welcome!

We are a small (16 member), mixed chamber choir based in West Yorkshire. We sing short, unaccompanied works ranging from medieval to modern and encompassing sacred and secular, folk, traditional and part-songs and 20th century popular music.

A brief history of the Accord Singers

The Accord is a small mixed chamber choir based in West Yorkshire, UK. There are currently 16 singers, but numbers have fluctuated from 12 to 20+.

The choir first came together in Wakefield in 1994 when members of local choral societies discovered a conductor who, like them, had aspirations to perform shorter, more intimate, and unaccompanied music in appropriate settings. Graham Sorrell was the conductor and he remains as the group’s musical director, having resumed in that role after being absent for a short period through ill-health. Simon Ackroyd very capably took his place for over a year and he has gone on to gain a fine reputation with other musical enterprises in the Huddersfield area.

Graham Sorrell had been a professional singer in the choirs of some of England’s most prestigious cathedrals. Understandably, therefore, the Accord has a strong bias towards sacred music, but they have a much wider repertoire which encompasses also folk, traditional and part−songs and popular 20th century compositions: in fact a range from Byrd to Britten and Richard Rodney Bennett; Purcell to Cole Porter. Graham has written many choral arrangements for the group to perform and their concerts often include, if appropriate, short readings to elaborate and enhance the musical content. The Accord’s Christmas programme at Wakefield’s Chantry Chapel and at Upper Denby Church have become regular events, enjoyed by choir and audience. These and other performances, which are provided without charge, have raised sizable funds for local charities throughout West Yorkshire and elsewhere − including some unusual venues: the annual Ramblers’ service at the tiny Lead Church, which stands in the middle of a field; a disused railway tunnel near Barnsley (a zany but surprisingly successful contribution to the BBC’s televised ’Music Live’ weekend); and at a social club in Ossett where we took part in an evening designed to re-create the atmosphere of the 1940s, singing some pieces reminiscent of the era.

Major events in recent years have been our exchange visits with our sister choir Chantatouille which is based in Amersfoort, Holland. They found us via the website and wanted to expand their knowledge of British choral music through collaboration. Chantatouille is a 24 strong mixed choir, ably conducted by Karel Smit. They sing a wide range of music, ancient and modern, sometimes ‘a capella’, sometimes accompanied.

The first collaboration was October 2002 when Chantatouille came to West Yorkshire. The main concert was entitled “Four centuries, three choirs, two nations and a concert”: an international celebration of choral music spanning four centuries. The concert was held at All Saints Church, Elland and involved Chantatouille, The Accord Singers and Credo (a small ladies choir based in Elland). The programme was very varied and well received.

The return visit was in May 2004 when Chantatouille hosted the Accord Singers in fine style. There was further musical collaboration and concerts and a surprise opera workshop which was something of a novelty for all concerned!

Musically and personally the two choirs have established an enthusiastic rapport and were keen to maintain the link. Thus, at the end of May 2006 Chantatouille will visit again, joining for two concerts (this time entitled “Tulips and White Roses”) which will be held in Horbury and Emley (see our upcoming events page). There will no doubt be much merry−making and ‘off−piste’ singing too, and it will be good to renew old friendships.

Members come to rehearse (in Huddersfield) with the Accord from a wide area of Yorkshire – including Wakefield, Huddersfield, Calderdale, and the rural villages south of Huddersfield. If you are interested in singing, or in exploring the possibility of arranging a concert, you may like to contact us.

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