North London Chorus

North London Chorus (NLC) met as The Hill Singers for the first time on 28 October 1976 and, under the direction of Alan Hazeldine, gave its first concert on 10 December 1977. Since then, NLC has established a reputation as a versatile amateur choir, performing a broad range of choral works drawn from the 16^th to the 21^st centuries.

NLC’s recent concerts have included sell-outs at St James's, Muswell Hill in January 2006 (Bach Mass in B Minor) and, in April 2005, an ambitious programme of Puccini and Stravinsky at artsdepot, which was awarded 4 stars in the Ham and High. In June 2005 the choir’s concert of baroque music with Denise Leigh (winner of Channel 4’s Operatunity) and a period orchestra was also awarded 4 stars, and led to the choir being invited to perform in this year’s “Proms at St Jude’s”.

In 2005, NLC was proud to welcome renowned soprano Janis Kelly as its patron. Janis’s recent roles at English National Opera include Romilda in Handel Xerxes and Pat Nixon in John Adams Nixon in China. Her performing début with the choir was in April 2006, when she sang Britten Les Illuminations and Fauré Requiem in a concert at St Michael's, Highgate which also included Holst The Hymn of Jesus and Finzi Lo, The Full, Final Sacrifice, and featured Finchley Children's Music Group. Janis has brought her inspirational energy directly to the choir, regularly running singing sessions at our workshops.

Murray Hipkin was appointed Musical Director in 2003. He has considerable experience of both choral music and opera. His enthusiasm and skills as teacher and conductor have enabled the choir to flourish and develop an exciting and ambitious programme of ongoing and future performances.

North London Chorus recently celebrated its 30th Anniversary in December with an exciting programme followed by a champagne reception. Click here to read more about the choir's history.

NLC is a friendly choir and, as well as preparing for concerts, organises a range of related activities, including an annual residential weekend, at least one annual one day workshop, sectional rehearsals and regular social events and visits to concerts and the opera.