Bradford Festival Choral Society is one of five shortlistees for the 2023 RPS Inspiration Award, voted for by the public. Although voting has now closed, we invite you to read about this year's shortlisted entities.
A group which has thrived for over 150 years, Bradford Festival Choral Society prides itself on serving the local community as well as its members. The choral society is committed to widening access, and the last 12 months have been especially fruitful as it has taken inspiring steps to reduce physical and financial barriers to attending its concerts. The choral society supports Bradford Friendship Choir, a choir for refugees, asylum seekers and their friends; they collaborated together in a heart-warming virtual concert, as well as lending a few voices to support their singing friends at Bradford's Lantern Parade. Community events included a singing workshop and concert at Bradford’s Ukrainian Centre, and a Sing! Course which offers adult entry points for choral singing.
Continuing to uphold its reputation for performing the choral classics, Bradford Festival Choral Society also welcomed 50 young singers from Bradford Catholic Youth Choir for a performance of J. S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion, supported and invested in its members by organising vocal coaching and music-reading classes, and sustained its pledge to include music composed by women in all of its multi-work concerts during the year.
‘In my 25 years of membership BFCS has moved from a staid ‘traditional choral society’ to a joyful, forward-looking and inclusive choir under visionary and enthusiastic leadership. In the last year we’ve welcomed new members from our Learn to Sing course, run community open rehearsals and workshops, collaborated with a children’s choir and supported Bradford Friendship Choir for refugees and asylum seekers. It’s a choir that values all backgrounds, ages, experience and abilities while maintaining excellence in accessible performances. Highlight of the year: the powerful moment a Ukrainian conductor led us singing the Ukrainian national anthem at our summer concert.’
John, tenor
‘Our choir is connected by our love of singing and the strong community spirit we share. From the support provided for Bradford Friendship Choir, where we see members of both choirs finding opportunities to enjoy music together at the launch of our digital collaboration, singing together at the magical Lantern Parade and BFC members supporting us at our Handel Messiah concert, to regular collections for local food banks, broadening access through our ‘no proof of status’ concession ticket pricing, free tickets for u18s, working with young musicians and even providing concert themed colouring books for our youngest audience members!’
Zoe, soprano
