The Parliament Choir , also known as the UK Parliament Choir and the Choir of the UK Parliament , is the choir of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Founded by Simon Over with the support of Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin in December 2000, it is made up of members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and staff who work at Parliament.
21-717: The Parliament Choir, also known as the UK Parliament Choir and the Choir of the UK Parliament, was founded in December 2000 by composer Simon Over with the support of Geoffrey Filkin, Baron Filkin . Over had run a choral society at Westminster Abbey whose members included serving parliamentarians in the House of Commons and the House of Lords . These parliamentarians were often unable to attend rehearsals because of voting commitments and
42-566: A concert when it was unexpectedly dissolved as part of the dissolution of Parliament for the snap 2017 general election . It is now an autonomous body of Parliament under the patronage of the Speaker of the House of Commons ( Lindsay Hoyle since 2019) and the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords ( John McFall, Baron McFall of Alcluith since 2021) who serve as its co-presidents. The Parliament Choir
63-461: A music team which includes Simon Over as music director and Nicholas O'Neill as choirmaster and composer in residence. Southbank Sinfonia serves as the choir's resident orchestra; the orchestra was also founded by Simon Over in 2002. Since its founding, the choir has upheld a policy of keeping its membership open to anyone who has a parliamentary pass or works in the Palace of Westminster; membership
84-518: A new library and 270-seat concert hall. However, in 2005 the RCO announced that this move would not be taking place and subsequently that it would no longer be looking for a permanent home of this kind, focussing instead on activities such as education, events, examinations and member services. In 2014 the college celebrated its 150th anniversary with a year-long programme of events including recitals, conferences, music festivals, courses and publications. In 2020
105-577: A pianist, his performances with American violinist Miriam Kramer at the Wigmore Hall London and Lincoln Center , New York – as well as on several recordings – have received high critical acclaim. Fellow of the Royal College of Organists The Royal College of Organists ( RCO ) is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, with members worldwide. Its role
126-509: A progression for those who already hold the ARCO and represents a premier standard in organ playing, which a cathedral organist would be expected to hold. The Choral Directing Diploma (Dip CHD) demonstrates achievement in choral conducting and related disciplines. The Licentiateship in Teaching (LTRCO) provides professional accreditation for organ teachers who already hold either the ARCO or FRCO. In 2016
147-606: A total of 71 performances of a new production of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour ( Tom Stoppard / André Previn ) at the Royal National Theatre which received rave reviews. In 2006, Over was appointed Conductor of the Malcolm Sargent Festival Choir and has been associated with the Samling Foundation in its work with young professional singers since its inception in 1996. Over is Artistic Director of
168-496: Is legally organised as a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee . It is managed by a board of trustees which is led by a chair and also includes three vice-chairs and a treasurer. Mike German, Baron German is the chair of the choir. Hugh Merrill , Bernard Jenkin and Mary Macleod are the vice-chairs. Judith Jolly, Baroness Jolly is the treasurer. Other trustees include Oliver Heald , Sue Hayman, Baroness Hayman of Ullock and Michael Prisk . The choir also has
189-419: Is open to all parliamentary staff including police and security personnel, caterers and transcribers for Hansard , as well as to journalists with access to the press gallery and parliamentarians from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, including senior government ministers . Members of Parliament (MPs) have also invited their constituents to join the choir. Auditions are not required to join
210-492: Is to promote and advance organ playing and choral music, and it offers music education, training and development, and professional support for organists and choral directors. The college also provides accreditation in organ playing, choral directing and organ teaching; it runs an extensive education and outreach programme across the UK; and it maintains an internationally important library containing more than 60,000 titles concerning
231-923: The Music Festival in Anghiari (Tuscany), where he was recently made an Honorary Citizen. In 2015 he was appointed Director of Music at St Clement Danes , the Central Church of the Royal Air Force , Westminster London. Further afield, he has conducted the City Chamber Orchestra (Hong Kong) and the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra (New Zealand). He has worked with many internationally acclaimed musicians, including Sir Thomas Allen , Emma Kirkby , Dame Felicity Lott , Alessio Bax , Malcolm Martineau , Emma Johnson , and Sir James and Lady Galway . As
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#1733094527174252-727: The Parliament Choir at some point during their careers. The following notable individuals have also been members of the Parliament Choir but have never served as MPs or Lords. Simon Over Simon Over MA FRCO attended King Henry VIII School in Coventry , UK. He subsequently studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam , the Royal Academy of Music and the University of Oxford (at Keble College ). From 1992 to 2002, Over
273-540: The RCO announced that Saturday 18 April would be its inaugural National Organ Day. In 2024 King Charles III accepted the patronage of the RCO, succeeding his mother, Queen Elizabeth II , after her death in 2022. The first members of the College of Organists ( MCO ) were: Edmund Hart Turpin , was made a fellow of the Royal College of Organist without examination in 1869, and became a member shortly afterwards. From 1875 he succeeded Richard Limpus as honorary secretary of
294-622: The Royal College of Organists. The college runs the RCO Academy programme to provide education and support to organists and students. The college offers five diplomas. The Diploma of Colleague (CRCO) (formerly the Certificate, CertRCO) is a qualification for the intermediate organist and provides a foundation for developing organists and choral directors. The Associateship Diploma (ARCO) demonstrates high achievement in organ playing and supporting theoretical work. The Fellowship diploma (FRCO) offers
315-519: The UK and Europe in concert halls as diverse as St George's Chapel , Windsor Castle ; St James's Palace ; The Royal Opera House , Covent Garden ; Westminster Abbey ; a beer tent in Bury St Edmunds and a converted cowshed in Aberdeenshire . He has conducted Southbank Sinfonia in recordings with cellist Raphael Wallfisch and tenor Andrew Kennedy and in 2009 and 2010 conducted the orchestra in
336-427: The choir; anyone who wishes to join may do so. However, there is a membership fee ranging from £60 to £120 depending on members' salaries. Membership is cross-party and its members have included Conservative , Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians. The following Lords or former Lords have been members of the Parliament Choir at some point during their careers. The following MPs or former MPs have been members of
357-489: The first time in December 2000. The Parliament Choir was initially organised as an all-party parliamentary group within Parliament. As such, the choir could only rehearse when Parliament was in session. Since its early years, it has been sponsored by BT Group , which gives it around £60,000 or £65,000 to maintain the choir every year. The choir's internal relationship with Parliament was changed in 2017, after it had to cancel
378-482: The late hours of parliamentary business. Over discussed the issue with Filkin who proposed establishing a choir in Parliament to address the issue. Over then set up a choir in the Palace of Westminster , the Parliament Choir, which enabled parliamentarians to attend votes at short notice with the sounding of the division bell during rehearsals, returning to rehearse shortly after the vote had concluded. The choir performed for
399-598: The mid-1980s that an economic rent would be charged on expiry of that lease, the lease was sold and the college moved into new accommodation in 1991. The building subsequently become the home of property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz . In 2003 plans were announced for more permanent purpose-built premises around the Grade I listed former Curzon Street railway station in Birmingham , a notable piece of monumental railway architecture. New facilities designed by Associated Architects included
420-565: The organ, organ and choral music and organ playing. The RCO was founded as the College of Organists in 1864 by Richard Limpus , the organist of St Michael, Cornhill , in the City of London , and received its Royal Charter in 1893. In 1903 it was offered a 99-year lease at peppercorn rent on a building designed by the architect H. H. Cole in Kensington Gore , west London. When it became clear in
441-706: Was a member of the music staff of Westminster Abbey , and Director of Music at both St Margaret's Church and the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster. He is the Founder-Conductor of the UK Parliament Choir and has conducted all the choir's performances in conjunction with the City of London Sinfonia , La Serenissima , The London Festival Orchestra and Southbank Sinfonia . Over has been Music Director of Southbank Sinfonia since its formation in 2002 and has conducted many of its concerts throughout
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