A Wonderful Christmastime
On Friday, 13th December, Harlequin Chamber Choir delivered a truly memorable evening of music, launching the festive season with a perfect blend of reflection, joy, and celebration. The concert opened with Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium, a sublime and atmospheric performance that immediately drew the audience into the meaning and wonder of Advent and Christmas.
After the two settings of Adam Lay Ybounden; Laura Sheils’ contemporary, rhythmically vibrant arrangement and Boris Ord’s timeless interpretation, Nota Bene (Stevens & Bolton in-house choir), brought a delightful touch of humour and charm to the evening, particularly with Ian Assersohn’s Deck the Hall. Their creative use of props and light-hearted delivery had the audience laughing and clapping along.
Harlequin continued to shine throughout the programme, with Bob Chilcott’s Jesus Christ the Apple Tree, featuring three pairs of superb soloist, standing out as a highlight, its delicate harmonies setting a serene tone for the second half.
Another poignant moment came with Tavener’s The Lamb, dedicated to the memory of former Harlequin tenor Tim, who passed away last year, and brought a moment of reflection to the evening.
The audience too, played a vital part, enthusiastically joining in with traditional carols that added warmth and a sense of community to the evening.
Unfortunately the Senior Singing Squad from St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School were unable to perform due to illness but Harlequin stepped in with a lively and spirited rendition of David Willcocks’ Jingle Bells, ensuring the festive cheer continued.
The evening also raised valuable funds for the children’s charity Momentum, and we are so grateful to everyone who donated.
With Daniel Hill’s expert accompaniment and Amy Bebbington’s inspiring direction, the concert was a joyous and uplifting celebration, leaving all who attended ready to embrace the festive season.
Let’s fall in love
Saturday 12th October, 2024
Harlequin Chamber Choir delivered a truly enjoyable and uplifting concert to a packed and appreciative audience at Cranleigh Arts Centre. From the very first note, the evening was filled with musical highlights and beloved tunes from stage, screen, and popular music, featuring classics by Gershwin, The Beatles, ELO, Simon and Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Take That and even the Spice Girls! Standout pieces like “Autumn Leaves,” “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” “Africa,” and “Shenandoah” were performed with incredible panache, style, and skill, captivating the audience from start to finish.
Choral Evensong
Sunday 7th July, 2024 , St Peter’s Church, Petersfield
Harlequin travelled to the beautiful church of St Peter’s in Petersfield to lead Choral Evensong. Music included Josef Rheinberger’s motet, Abendlied, Barry Rose’s Responses, Herbert Howells’ Collegium Regale canticles and Edgar Bainton’s exquisite anthem, And I saw a new heaven.
Retreat
At the end of the May half-term, Harlequin enjoyed a weekend retreat at Ripon Theological college in Cuddeston. This provide an opportunity not only to work on our upcoming performance repertoire but also to indulge in some of our favourite choral music. As well as music making there was time for socialising in the evenings and a walk to enjoy the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside.
Let all the world
17th March, 2024
This spring-time concert featured sought-after rising star, Dominic Sedgwick, performing choral works including Vaughan Williams’ incomparable Five Mystical Songs and Butterworth’s nostalgic A Shropshire Lad. Complementing this were beautiful works by composers Eleanor Daly, Judith Weir, Becky McGlade, Lizzie Deane and Sarah Cattley, setting words from the Song of Solomon and George Herbert along with John Corigliano’s evocative Fern Hill, setting Dylan Thomas’s poem.
A Merry Little Christmas
15th December, 2023
Harlequin Chamber Choir presented their ever-popular seasonal concert at Holy Trinity Church, Guildford, joined by Nota Bene (the office choir of Stevens & Bolton) and the brilliant Senior Singing Squad from St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School. The concert was a harmonious blend of traditional carols and contemporary classics and filled the evening with heartwarming melodies and outstanding performances that left the audience in high spirits.
Appear & Inspire
14th October, 2023
Harlequin Chamber Choir celebrated some of the finest secular and sacred works from the early-mid twentieth century, including works by Harris, Parry, Finzi and Britten in the beautiful setting of Christ Church, Guildford
You’re the Voice
1st July, 2023
Three very different ensembles united – Harlequin Chamber Choir, Nota Bene (Stevens & Bolton law firm choir) and Surrey Rainbow Choir (Surrey’s only LGBTQ+ choir) – to deliver some storming, show-stopping tunes from the 60s to the present day.
Come and Sing Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle
3rd June, 2023
A come and sing event held at Charterhouse School performing choruses from Gioachino Rossini’s most well-known 19th century choral works, full of extraordinary drama, pathos, colour and intensity.
Come & Sing
Music for Royal Occasions
18th April 2023
This open event brought together a large choir to perform iconic pieces such as Handel’s Zadok, Parry’s I was glad and Mealor’s Ubi Caritas at St Nicolas Church Guildford
Choral Conducting Masterclass
18th March 2023
Harlequin enjoyed being the featured choir in Amy Bebbington’s Choral Conducting Master class held in Onslow Village Hall, Guildford.
A Winter Day: Christmas 2022
17th December 2022
Our annual concert
celebrating the joy of Christmas this year included a sumptuously stylish mix of festive choral music new and old, including beautiful new works by Elaine Hagenberg and Sarah Quartel for voices, piano and cello.
Harlequin’s Autumn Teatime Concert: A Sacred Paradise
9th July 2022
We sang a short concert of sacred music spanning the 16th to 21st Centuries, featuring well-loved favourites by Bruckner and Stanford, interspersed with little-known gems by Aleotti and Wheeler.
Harlequin Summer Concert: Chansons Françaises
9th July 2022
We sang a wide selection of French songs, 
ranging from the sixteenth century to the present day, and also enjoyed some well-loved piano solos. Composers included Debussy, Ravel, Fauré, Saint-Saëns and Poulenc.
Brandenburg presents Harlequin and Chantage
11th June 2022
Music Directors James Davey and Amy Bebbington are long-standing friends and colleagues, having both sung in Choros Amici, are practitioners for the Association of British Choral Directors and co-creators of the London International Choral Conducting Competition. They were delighted to be bringing their own chamber choirs Harlequin and Chantage together for the first time at St Stephen Walbrook, singing sacred and secular works to salve the soul.
Come & Sing Event — Vaughan Williams, Stanford and many more
14th May 2022
A wonderful time was had by all with delicious cakes, 
fantastic repertoire and glorious weather! We explored Vaughan Williams’ lesser-known Sun, Moon, Stars and Man, alongside his Mystical Songs and Shakespeare Songs. We also enjoyed Stanford’s motets, Janet Wheeler’s Beati Quorum Via, new OUP composer Becky McGlade’s Come my way, my truth, my life, Sarah Cattley’s recent setting of Ursula Vaughan Williams’ text, Western Wind and music from Canadian composer Eleanor Daley.
Sound, Silence, Stillness
26th March 2022
Harlequin presented its first concert of 2022, 
on the theme of sound, silence and stillness. As well as reflective pieces by Harris, Runestad, Hagenburg and Simon & Garfunkel, we were also very pleased to include compositions from the winners of our 2020 CoronaComposer competition. Click here for more information about the competition and the winning composers.
Harlequin Christmas Concert 2021
17th December 2021
Our Christmas concert, ‘Joy to the World!’ included carols 
and classics for choir and trumpets directed by Amy Bebbington. The concert featured Harlequin Chamber Choir, world-famous trumpeter Crispian Steele Perkins, and Tillingbourne Junior School Choir directed by Louise Djadali.
On Windover Hill
7th March 2020
Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Harlequin Chamber Choir, Corra Sound
Harlequin recently gave the world premiere of a new cantata by composer, Nathan James. On Windover Hill was inspired by the Long Man of Wilmington, an ancient figure carved into the South Downs. The music, scored for SATB choir and chamber orchestra, was performed in the beautiful surroundings of the 12th Century Boxgrove Priory in West Sussex and was attended by a capacity audience. The cantata also included two dancers from First Dance Studios and a number of readings given by Cole Moreton (author & journalist), Peter Martin (poet), Emily Jeffery (BBC presenter), Justin Hopper (author), and Philip Carr-Gomm (author) – pictured below. Our colleagues at Corra Sound also gave a rare performance of Goblin Market by Ruth Gipps, accompanied by the strings of the RPCO.
The choir also gave the first UK performance of Wyndore in 82 years, by Avril Coleridge-Taylor, along with pieces by fellow Sussex composers, Frank Bridge, John Ireland, and Thomas Weelkes.
We are grateful to the Arts Council, The RVW Trust, and The Ambache Trust for their support for this concert.
Photographs by Rachel Poulton
