About us

In just over 25 years…

…Crouch End Festival Chorus has established itself as one Britain’s major choruses, and has gained both national and international recognition. Based in north London, the choir grew from a small start: enthusiasts handing out leaflets outside a local supermarket in summer 1984 asking for singers for Verdi’s Requiem. In 2008 the choir returned to this work - this time in its fifth BBC Proms appearance at the Royal Albert Hall - and after singing Berlioz at the world’s greatest classical music festival in 2009, we were invited back to sing Mahler’s 8th Symphony at the First Night of the Proms in 2010 (pictured in rehearsal with the BBC Symphony Chorus and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs). It’s a measure of how far the chorus has come in a relatively short time.

With some 150 singers on its books, the chorus is known for its versatility and eclectic repertoire, ranging from the traditional classical works to modern and specially commissioned pieces. Recent performances include music by Bach, Beethoven, Britten, Bernstein and even The Beach Boys.

Recent highlights

Over the last few years, the singers of Crouch End Festival Chorus have appeared at the BBC Proms (Verdi Requiem, Berlioz Te Deum and Mahler 8th Symphony) and the BBC Electric Proms; in the chorus’s own concert promotions at the Barbican and the new Kings Place concert hall; and in two packed-out performances of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 with Emma Kirkby and period instruments on home turf in Muswell Hill. 

Our recent main-season Barbican concerts include Britten’s War Requiem in November 2009, Haydn’s Die Schöpfung in January 2010 (pictured) and Beethoven’s Mass in C alongside Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass in April 2010.

In June 2009 the choir reached no. 5 in the Amazon charts with the Kinks Choral Collection, recorded with 1960s pop icon Ray Davies. CEFC’s recent recording with Kate Royal, Midsummer Night, was nominated for a Grammy Award. The chorus is also the regular soundtrack choir for Doctor Who on the BBC. 

In early March 2010, CEFC featured in a Classic FM concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Later in the month, we were delighted to join Noel Gallagher for two nights, also at the RAH, as part of an all-star celebration of the Teenage Cancer Trust’s 10th year of music and comedy. In April, the chorus was back at the Royal Albert Hall once again with the legendary Hollywood composer Ennio Morricone (one of our patrons), known for his scores for such classic films as A Fistful of Dollars,  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West. 

And for many Crouch End Festival Chorus singers, summer 2010 contained two highlights: our performance at the First Night of the Proms and being onstage at the Glastonbury Festival (pictured) with our regular collaborator and patron Ray Davies.

Look back at our recent concerts

CEFC patrons

Crouch End Festival Chorus is proud to have these distinguished musical figures as patrons:

Meirion Bowen
Ray Davies CBE
Sir Colin Davis CH CBE
Sir Mark Elder CBE
Ennio Morricone
Alison Pearce
Bryn Terfel CBE

CEFC commissions

The choir has commissioned works from Simon Bainbridge, Howard Haigh, Orlando Gough, Sally Beamish, John Woolrich, David Bedford, Joby Talbot, Paul Patterson and Matthew Ferraro.

CEFC management and operation

The Chorus is directed by David Temple, and its accompanists are Peter Jaekel and Paul Ayres. The management and support work is carried out by choir members. Please see our Trustee and Committee contacts page for further information and contact details.

For more information on any aspect of the choir and its work, please contact Duncan McAlpine on 0844 736 5220 ext. 40 or email pr.marketing@cefc.org.uk.  

Prom photo: Marie-Noëlle Lamy | Barbican photo: Paul Robinson | Glastonbury photo: Darren Dixon