History
"The Leeds Philharmonic Society is the senior choir in the city by date of foundation and by virtue of its continued and very distinguished programme sustained annually since 1870". Simon Lindley
Leeds Philharmonic Society has over 160 singing members regularly performing concerts at Leeds Town Hall. Performances are often jointly promoted with Leeds International Concert Season and the BBC. Repertoire is extensive, combining both tradition and innovation.
The Society's President is Dr Ingrid Roscoe the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.
In recent years the chorus has recorded works such as Stanford's Stabat Mater and Te Deum for Chandos, Walton's Gloria and Belshazzar's Feast for Naxos and The Messiah for CMI Records (see links).
Early in its history the chorus gave performances of new works conducted by composers such as Elgar, Parry and Sullivan. More recently, the chorus gave the first broadcast performance of Geoffrey Burgon's Requiem in 1977 and has commissioned works from James Brown, Donald Hunt and Philip Wilby.
Unfamiliar and demanding works have been a frequent feature of programmes. Recent examples include Franz Schmidt's The Book with Seven Seals, Rachmaninov's The Bells (with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra), Adams' Harmonium and Wilby's Bronte Mass (World Premiere). However, the chorus is no stranger to “cross-over” music: it has been a mainstay of Leeds Opera in the Park also taking part in a national tour of The Queen Symphony (2006/7) conducted by Tolga Kashif.
As well as performing concerts in Leeds Town Hall, the chorus has performed in many other prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall (London), Bridgewater Hall (Manchester), Symphony Hall (Birmingham), The Sage (Gateshead), the Liszt Academy (Budapest - to hear a sample of our recording, as also broadcast on Classic FM), click here) and Stephansdom (Vienna).
David Hill is Leeds Philharmonic Society's Musical Director and Conductor. Widely recognised as one of the leading choral conductors in the UK, David's fine musicianship was recognised by his appointment to the post of Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers in 2007 to which he now adds Associate Guest Conductor of The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Mark Hindley is Leeds Philharmonic Society's Chorus Master. He is in demand to train voices all over the UK and has worked with the RSNO chorus, Edinburgh Royal Choral Union, St Andrews Chorus and the Angus Choral Society among others.
In October 2008 the Chorus established a partnership with Leeds City Council basing its Chorus Administrator in the offices of the Leeds City Council Music Department and formally making Leeds Town Hall the official home of the Leeds Philharmonic Society.
In February 2009 the chorus appointed its first annual Conducting Intern.
Easter 2009 saw the chorus touring Poland (supported by Yorkshire Forward) including the Polish premiere of Karl Jenkins' Armed Man with the Capella Cracoviensis Chamber Orchestra.
In July 2011 Leeds’ twin city Dortmund welcomed us for three concerts to capacity audiences. We started with a selection of English and American choral music in the beautiful Reinoldikirche. We then joined seven local choirs and the Dortmunder Philharmoniker under the baton of Jac van Steen for two performances of Edward Elgar’s The Music Makers in the Konzerthaus (review).
Leeds Philharmonic Chorus is a self-governed registered charity, number 506467, and UK registered trade mark number 2474150.
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