The history of the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London
The Brandenburg Choral Festival began in Spring 2010 with six concerts at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Although the Brandenburg Sinfonia had been playing at St Martin's regularly, the concerts were usually spread throughout the year, but these were close enough together to go on one leaflet. Looking at the layout, Artistic Director Bob Porter muttered the immortal words — 'that needs a title — let's call it a Festival' — and the rest is history!
We then started looking for other venues and by the following year the pattern for the Festival as we know it was in place. Some of the first choirs who performed that year are still regulars including the Twickenham Choral Society, English Baroque Choir,Addison Singers and Medici. By 2012 the Festival had over 40 concerts and the venues included St Clement Danes and The Queen's Chapel of the Savoy.
2013 was an important year as we introduced the Fringe Club, John Rutter became our first Artistic Patron and The Autumn Series was born.
The 11th November 2014 saw a major highlight as the Brandenburg Festival Chorus and Brandenburg Sinfonia performed Mozart's Requiem in the Royal Courts of Justice. This Armistice Day concert was a mesmerising event which none of us will ever forget. That was the year we also started partnering with charities and so far we have helped and supported over 250 groups to raise funds and awareness for some excellent causes.
In 2015 a rebrand saw us become the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London and the Spring and Autumn Series combined, brought the total number of concerts to over 100 a year.
Along the way we have had the help and advice of the great and the good of the contemporary choral world, as John Rutter, Howard Goodall, Morten Lauridsen, Bob Chilcott and Eric Whitacre and Will Todd have carried the baton of Artistic Patron. We have also had the support of our Associate Music Directors and volunteer Ambassadors, who all give their time and experience and without whom we simply couldn't exist!
The Festival has grown and flourished in an economic climate where even survival is a success. We continue to expand with bespoke Christmas concerts and the Choral Cruises and remain the premier showcase for choral singing in London.