Established in 1883 and still singing...
Saffron Walden Choral Society is a friendly, energetic and highly accomplished choir with a reputation for innovative programming and polished performance. Since 2013, most of our concerts are performed at the world-class Saffron Hall. Our annual outreach concert, The Spirit of Christmas, continues to be performed with local schools in St Mary’s Church, Saffron Walden.
SWCS’s repertoire ranges from Renaissance to Contemporary music. Highlights include the world première at Thaxted Festival of The Ceaseless Round of Circling Planets, composed for the choir by our former MD, Janet Wheeler (2016), Britten's War Requiem with Harlow Chorus (2017) Walton's Belshazzar's Feast with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Marin Alsop (2019).
Latterly, under the inspired direction of Quintin Beer, the choir’s MD since 2022, SWCS has performed Haydn's The Creation (2022) and Handel's Israel in Egypt (2023). In May 2023, SWCS celebrated its 140th anniversary by commissioning a work by the acclaimed tenor and composer, Roderick Williams. Written specially for SWCS, the new work, Sing Joyfully, celebrated our long history, and our joy of singing.
