A prestigious and diverse group of choral singers

A bit about us

The London Symphony Chorus is a world-class symphony chorus, based in the wonderfully diverse city of London, where we have been exciting and inspiring audiences and members alike since our formation in 1966.

Originally created to complement the work of the London Symphony Orchestra, today our vibrant chorus is made up of 160 amateur choral singers that partner with the very best conductors, orchestras and soloists across the globe.

We are a diverse, committed chorus that perform, record and commission ambitious and varied repertoire to the highest standard. We regularly perform with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre, as part of the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, and are fortunate to tour internationally, sharing our passion for choral music wherever we perform and creating inspiring and memorable experiences for our audiences.

Inspiring musical experiences for everyone, for over 50 years.

London Symphony Chorus

1966

The conception of the chorus

Conceived as the LSO chorus by Ernest Fleischmann, GM of London Symphony Orchestra, and John Alldis, Professor at Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD). The chorus was formed of singers from GMSD and John Alldis was appointed Chorus Director.

1966

Decca Records and the Royal Festival Hall

The chorus recorded Mahler’s Symphony No 2 at Kingsway Hall for Decca Records with Sir Georg Solti and performed the symphony at its first concert the next day in the Royal Festival Hall.

1968

André Previn

Appointed as Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

1969

Arthur Oldham

Appointed as Chorus Director of the London Symphony Chorus.

1971

Five years of the chorus

The chorus celebrated its 5th anniversary with a performance and recording of Tippett’s The Vision of St Augustine, with Sir Michael Tippett.

1976

The creation of the London Symphony Chorus

The London Symphony Chorus was established in its own right, 10 years after it was set up by the London Symphony Orchestra. Run by an elected council of nine volunteers and made up of mostly amateur choral singers, it continued to work primarily with the LSO.

1976

Richard Hickox

Appointed as Chorus Director of the London Symphony Chorus.

1979

Claudio Abbado

Appointed as Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

1986

Twenty years of the chorus

The chorus celebrated its 20th anniversary with a performance and recording of Elgar’s The Music Makers, with Richard Hickox.

1988

HRH the Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales, becomes Patron of the London Symphony Orchestra, until 1996.

1988

Michael Tilson Thomas

Appointed Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

1989

Guardian & Observer Awards

The London Symphony Chorus won the Guardian’s Choral Record of the Year with Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius and the Observer’s Choral Record of the Year with Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, both with Richard Hickox.

1990

Gramophone Award

The chorus won the Reader’s Choral Record of the Year at the Gramophone Classic Music Awards with Rossini’s Stabat Mater, with Richard Hickox and the City of London Sinfonia.

1991

Stephen Westrop

Appointed as Chorus Director of the London Symphony Chorus.

1992

Grammy Award

The London Symphony Chorus won its first Grammy Award with Bernstein’s Candide, with Leonard Bernstein. The chorus also won the Best Music Theatre award at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards with the same piece, and the Grand Prix du Disque for Britten’s War Requiem/Ballad of Heroes, with Richard Hickox.

1995

Sir Colin Davis

Appointed Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

1996

Thirty years of the chorus

The London Symphony Chorus marked its 30th anniversary with a performance and recording of Mozart’s Requiem, with Richard Hickox.

1997

Grammy & Gramphone Awards

The chorus won both a Grammy and a Gramophone Classic Music Award for Britten’s Peter Grimes, with Richard Hickox and the City of London Sinfonia.

2001

Joseph Cullen

Appointed as the Chorus Director of the London Symphony Chorus.

2001

Two Grammy Awards

The chorus won two Grammy awards for Berlioz Les Troyens, with Sir Colin Davis.

2005

New York Critics’ Award

The London Symphony Chorus won the New York Critics’ Best Concert Award with Verdi’s Requiem, with Sir Colin Davis.

2006

Grammy Award

The chorus won a Grammy award with Verdi’s Falstaff, with Sir Colin Davis.

2006

Forty years of the chorus

The chorus celebrated its 40th anniversary with a performance and recording of Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony, with Richard Hickox.

2006

Valery Gergiev

Appointed as Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.

2010

Grammy and Gramophone Awards

The London Symphony Chorus won a Grammy Award with Britten’s Billy Budd, with Daniel Harding, and a Gramophone Classical Music Award with Wagner’s Götterdämmerung, with Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé.

2012

Simon Halsey

Appointed as Chorus Director of the London Symphony Chorus.

2014

International Music Award

The chorus won an International Music Award for Berlioz’s Grande Messe des Morts, with Sir Colin Davis.

2015

South Bank Sky Arts Award

The London Symphony Chorus won the South Bank Sky Arts Award with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’s Symphony No 10, with Sir Antonio Pappano.

2016

Fifty years of the chorus

The chorus marked its 50th anniversary with a performance and recording of Haydn’s The Seasons, with Sir Simon Rattle.

2017

Sir Simon Rattle

Appointed as Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra.

2020

Covid-19 outbreak

First national lockdown. The chorus continues with regular online rehearsals under Simon Halsey

2020

Covid-19 tribute

Online recording of Howard Goodall’s Never to Forget, a tribute to healthcare workers who died from Covid

2021

Between lockdowns

Tour to Monaco and Aix-en-Provence with Beethoven 9, with Kazuki Yamada

2021

Return of live concerts

The first live Barbican concert post-Covid: Julian Anderson’s Exiles, with Simon Rattle

2021

Royal Opera House

Singing backstage for The Dante Project, music for the ballet composed by Thomas Adés

2022

Maestro

Filming at Ely Cathedral and recording at Air Lyndhurst for Bradley Cooper’s Maestro, based on Leonard Bernstein’s life.

2023

Sir Antonio Pappano

Appointed Chief Conductor Designate of the London Symphony Orchestra

2023

Mariana Rosas

Appointed Chorus Director of the London Symphony Chorus

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