Midweek music
The Choir of Royal Holloway is the only university choir 
in the UK to offer free concerts every week during term-time. The innovative programmes have included themes of seasons, festivals, single composers, one historical period or event, concerts of solos or ensembles, organ recitals as well as everything else in-between. All of these concerts are live-streamed on Wednesday lunchtime at 1:15pm and can be viewed here. Click the title of each concert to watch a recording.
FREE parking
When you arrive for Midweek at our campus, please park in Car Park 12. This can be accessed by turning right as you enter the main College gates and is located next to the tennis courts.
Academic YEar 2024/25
Midweek Music will resume on Wednesday 2nd October 2024
Please note, there will not be a concert on September 25th
Autumn 2024
October 2: A New Song
October 9: Organ Recital
October 16: Music of the Renaissance
Finely sculptured polyphony from the Renaissance period
October 23: Spiritual Songs
Marking Black History Month, this programme celebrates the soulful spiritual and related songs
October 30: Autumn Songs
In the middle of this autumn season, a selection of solo and choral song from the choral scholars
November 6: Lux Stellarum
UK Premiere of a new Requiem by Oliver Tarney
November 13: Local lost Treasures
Historic music from Surrey and Hampshire brought back to life
November 20: The Founder's Choir
A concert with Royal Holloway’s Founder’s Choir
November 27: A Bruckner Retrospective
200 years since the birth of Anton Bruckner, we explore his music alongside new compositions written to compliment his work
December 4: A Garland of Carols
Festive music for voices and harp from composer Anthony Bolton
[no concert on Dec 11th due to a live BBC Radio Broadcast]
SUMmer 2024
May 1: A May Magnificat
The term begins with a concert of music dedicated to the month of May.
May 8: For the fallen
The choir sing two beautifully solemn choral pieces by Canadian composer Eleanor Daley.
May 15: Choral Classics
The choir explores some of the most famous pieces in the sacred choral tradition.
May 22: Orchestral classics reimagined
The choir dive into the world of newly rearranged and reimagined choral versions of familiar orchestral music.
May 29: Grand Orgue
The choir take a well-deserved break as the organists take centre stage in this all-French recital featuring organ music based on Gregorian chant.
June 5: Upon your heart
The choir explore music celebrating love, featuring music by Daley, Gjeilo, Coleridge
and more...
SPRING 2024
January 10: How Brightly Shines the Morning Star
The term begins with a concert for choir and organ, featuring music old and new inspired by the brightest star.
January 17: The light of the world
This week’s concert is an exploration of music on a theme of light, beginning with Bach and ending with Bednall’s setting of ‘I am the light of the World’
January 24: Music of the Restoration
The Choir visit the 17th Century for an assortment of much-loved music by Boyce, Purcell and Blow.
January 31: Love & Death with Hemiola
Vocal octet, Hemiola, and conductor, Harvey Lok, present a programme inspired by Sara Teasdale’s poem ‘Love and Death’, exploring love’s faithful persistence, even after death.
February 7: Music of the Stars
The choral scholars make the Chapel sparkle with this dazzling concert of music inspired by stars.
February 14: Miserere
To mark Ash Wednesday, the choir present a concert of music on the theme of Lent, including three settings of ‘Crucifixus’ and Allegri’s Miserere.
February 21: Music of Benjamin Britten
Including his 'Hymn of St. Columba', this week's concert revolves around the work of one of Britain's finest composers, Benjamin Britten.
February 28: The 'Other' Bachs
March 6: Fantasia
Featuring a choral version of Vaughan Williams' famous 'Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis', this concert explores the fantasy lying within some of the greatest English music.
March 13: New Sounds
With a new setting of 'Crucifixus' by Geoffrey Gordon and an electro-acoustic setting of Mortuos plango, vivos voco, the choir explore new music in this concert as part of Royal Holloway Music Department's New Sounds Festival.
March 20: The Founder's Choir
The baton is passed to The Founder's Choir, led by Andrej Ivanović and Cole Bryan for this afternoon concert.
March 27: Crucifixus
Alongside Matthew Coleridge's setting of Stabat Mater Dolorosa, the choir performs music for Lent by Kenneth Leighton.
Autumn 2023
September 20: Postcards
To mark the end of summer and our return to campus, The Choir of Royal Holloway takes a musical trip around the four corners of Great Britain and Ireland.
September 27: Bach to Barber
In the second concert of term, the choir explores the influence of J.S. Bach on the American composer, Samuel Barber.
October 4: Aedis Christi
The choir celebrates Christ’s Church through Mathias’ ‘Missa Aedis Christi’ and works by Walton and Bruckner.
October 11: Cantilène: The Music of Jean Langlais
The choir pay homage to 20th century composer Jean Langlais, in this deliciously French concert of music for choir and organ.
October 18: Renaissance to Reformation
Our choral scholars are joined by early music specialist, Professor Stephen Rose, for this concert of music from 14th and 15th century Europe.
October 25: We are the Music Makers
Performing music of diverse and unheard voices, the choir pay homage to forgotten composers of colour for Black History Month.
November 1: In Paradisum
The choir perform a programme including Rupert Gough’s much-loved arrangement of Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte, Tavener’s Song for Athene and the serene final movement of Fauré’s Requiem, In Paradisum.
November 8: Organ recital
300 years after the composer’s pivotal move to Leipzig, Germany, two of our three organ scholars present a concert of some of J S Bach’s finest organ music.
November 15: A Spotless Rose
Including our new single with Ola Gjeilo, A Spotless Rose, the choir celebrates Mary in a concert of music by Tavener, Hansson, Sandstrom and more.
November 22: Founder's Choir
This week, the baton is passed to Masters organ scholar, Andrej Ivanović and finalist music student, Cole Bryan, for a concert with the Founder’s Choir.
November 29: O Advent
As Advent draws near, the Choir of Royal Holloway present two contrasting settings of O nata lux by Ben Parry and Vytautas Miškinis, along with music by Pärt, Jackson and Joanna Forbes L’Estrange.
December 6: Ding dong!
And just like that, a term of afternoon concerts concludes with a selection of carols and music for Christmas, from Gjeilo’s Wintertide, to Ben Parry’s New Year Carol.
Previous Concerts (2022/23):
SUMMER 2023
June 7: Masters of the King's Music
For our final Midweek of the academic year, we welcome Judith Weir CBE, Master of the King's Music, in advance of her award of Honorary Fellowship from the college. After the concert, our composer in residence, Nathan James Dearden, will talk with Judith about her life and work, as part of Play! Festival 2023.
May 31: The Spacious Firmament - Music by Dan Locklair
Our choral scholars revisit the work of American composer, Dan Locklair, ahead of their collaboration with him later this summer.
May 24: Quintet
This concert sees one of the choir's smaller ensembles take centre stage for a concert of varied music for five voices.
May 17: Acoustic Triangle
The choir are joined by this unique trio of classically-trained jazz musicians for an exciting concert including the world premiere of Tim Garland's Bird Songs.
May 10: Songs of Springtime
Join the choir as they step into spring with this concert of light music from madrigals by Morley to Parry.
May 3: Coronation Anthems
In anticipation of the Coronation of HM King Charles III, The choir showcase music fit for a king in this lunchtime concert of regal anthems.
April 26: Litanies - Music for Easter
A concert of Easter music inspired by plainchant, from a traditional setting by Victoria to Alain's fantastic Litanies for solo organ
Spring 2023
March 22: The Founder's Choir
March 15: Orthodox Ikons
A lunchtime concert featuring some of the best-loved and some lesser-known music of Eastern Europe.
March 8: Messe da pacem
The choir revisit the music of Pierre Villette for a deliciously French concert showcasing his spectacular 'Messe da Pacem', arranged for choir and organ by Rupert Gough. Click here for the programme.
March 1: Songs of Farewell
The choir celebrate the birthday of C. H. H. Parry by performing his beloved and sentimental 'Songs of Farewell'. Click here for the programme.
February 22: Featuring Bros Quartet
The choir is joined by the international Bros Quartet for the world premiere of a new work by the Italian composer Paolo Carlomè, together with a new work by Gabriel Jackson based on Taliss' motet, Sancte Deus. Click here for the programme.
February 15: Music of love
Romance is in the air after Valentine's Day with a feast of music on the theme of love. Click here for the programme. Click here for the programme.
February 8: Masters of polyphony
Composers showing their mastery of the art of musical counterpoint, including Palestrina's famous Missa Papae Marcelli. Click here for the programme.
February 1: Light Born of Light
Three very different settings of 'O nata lux' frame this programme of music about light, with music from Thomas Tallis to James MacMillan. Click here for the programme.
January 25: The King, the Archbishop, a Spy and the English Exiles
The stories of Tudor composers at odds with the state and the church, with music by Byrd, Bull, Dering and Philips. Click here for the programme.
January 18: The Grand Organ
Our talented student organists take centre stage this week for a recital featuring music from Bach to Arakelyan. Click here for the programme.
January 11: A Ceremony of Carols
The choir wave goodbye to another festive season with Britten’s masterful song cycle for upper voices.
Autumn 2022
December 7: Carols for All
The Choir of Royal Holloway get festive for their final Midweek Music of term with Music from Handel's Messiah, interspersed with selected carols.
November 30: The Founder's Choir
Join The Founder's Choir for a lunchtime concert directed by tenor choral scholar, Zach Smith.
November 23: In Praise of Music
Music to celebrate the patron saint of music, and to mark the release of a new recording of music by George Arthur.
November 16: César Franck Bicentennial
Marking 200 years since the birth of the pioneer of French romantic music, the choir will perform Franck's Mass in A for choir, organ, harp and 'cello, a piece that includes the famous Panis Angelicus.
November 9: Danse Macabre
A concert for organ and harp including music by César Franck and Saint-Saëns' characterful, deathly dance.
November 2: Music of the Soul
Music of Duruflé’s sublime Requiem to mark All Soul’s Day
October 26: Choral Evensong LIVE on BBC Radio 3
Instead of Midweek Music, the choir broadcast Choral Evensong live on BBC Radio 3.
October 19: Renaissance, Reformation and Restoration
The turbulent transformation of polyphony in the 16th and 17th centuries with music from Josquin to Purcell.
October 12: Vaughan Williams 150th
To mark this important anniversary, the choir perform a variety of works including Five Mystical Songs.
October 5: Surround Sounds
An aural spectacular placing the audience in the midst of music by Tavener, Vaughan Williams and Lassus.
September 28: A Mass for Peace
Music of the blind French organist, Jean Langlais with guest organist, Simon Hogan.
September 21: Requiem aeternam
A concert in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, featuring music by Purcell, Elgar, Parry and others to provide a suitable reflection on the passing of our monarch.
Previous Concerts (2021/22):
SUMMER 2022
April 27: Hail, Queen of Heaven
A concert of stunning multi-choir polyphony featuring Spain’s celebrated Renaissance composer Tomás Luis de Victoria.
May 4: Cesar Franck bicentennial
A homage to the French composer César Franck 200 years since his birth. The Programme includes Franck’s famous “Panis angelicus” as well as less familiar works and a new work written to mark Franck’s birthday by Christophe Loiseleur des Longchamps
May 11: The light of hope
The results of a recent choral composition competition plus music by our composer-in-residence, Nathan James Dearden
May 18: The Glories of the English Renaissance
Classic English polyphony from the pens of Byrd, Gibbons and Purcell
May 25: The Founder’s Choir
June 1: Messe cum jubilo
The choir perform Duruflé’s Messe cum jubilo as well as music by Marcel Dupré and Yves Castagnet
June 8: Big Choir
In the final midweek of term, all the college choirs come together to perform a glorious programme of music by composers including William Harris, Edward Elgar and Ralph Vaughan Williams
Spring 2022
19 Jan: Seeing the star
A programme of choral music for Epiphany with composers including Mendelssohn, Victoria, Cornelius and local composer, Ben Ponniah
26 Jan: No concert – the choir will be singing in a live BBC broadcast
2 Feb: The organists’ entertain
A varied programme of organ music from our talented organ scholars
9 Feb: Into the light
Following Candlemas, the choir present a programme of music on the theme of lights, with music by Charles Wood, William Harris, Eric Whitacre and James MacMillan.
16 Feb: In Consort
A variety of sacred and secular choral music from smaller consorts of voices
23 Feb: Moon Song
The choir sing a programme on the theme of the moon, with music by Saint-Saëns, Louis Vierne, Erics Esenvalds and W.S. Lloyd Webber
2 Mar: The Founder’s Choir on Ash Wednesday
The Founder’s Choir present a selection of music to begin the season of Lent
9 Mar: The Genius of Bach
With the aid of some instrumentalists, the choir explore the sacred operatic of J.S. Bach
16th March: Abendlied
A programme of music from the German choral tradition, including Mendelssohn’s famous O for the wings of a dove
23rd March: Crucifixus
Musical depictions of the crucifixion in our final programme before Easter
Summer Term 2021
28 April: Composer in Residence: Nathan James Dearden
Meet our composer in residence, Nathan James Dearden, and hear some recent works, as well as a premiere of his new work; This is the day.
05 May: A Poulenc retrospective
Conductor Rupert Gough, with post-graduate student Ben Richards discuss Poulenc’s renewal of faith, which led to an outburst of compositions for choir. The programme covers music from the 1930s and 40s and will include Litanies à la Vierge Noire.
12 May: A Finzi retrospective
We are joined by the composer’s great-grandson to look at his life and work. This concert includes his most famous works for the church; Lo, the full final sacrifice and God is gone up.
19 May: Cecilia McDowall at 70
Join us to celebrate the birthday of one of the UK’s finest composers. Rupert will talk to the composer, and the choir will sing two new works; Three Shakespeare Songs, and Love incorruptible.
26 May: New sounds of 2021
New music by George Arthur and Thomas Hewitt-Jones will feature alongside pieces by American Dan Locklair as the choir prepare for upcoming recordings.
02 June: French romantic music
A selection of 20th and 21st century choral and organ music from French and Belgian composers. The programme includes music by Ravel, Vierne, Flor Peeters and Yves Castagnet.
09 June: All that jazz
We finish the year with a selection of jazz arrangements sung by the choral scholars.
Missed the live stream? Catch up now.
Autumn Term 2020
Missed the live stream? Catch up now.
Spring Term 2020
15 January: Picture Gallery Composer-in-residence scheme, No. 1
The choir travel into the night using two new works written by Royal Holloway students Andrew Moore and Mollie Carlyle, as well as Ben Parry's arrangement of the Welsh folksong Ar hyd y nos
22 January: Crossing Continents
Taking inspiration from across Asia and Australia, this concert features works from across the globe, with an arrangement of a Hakka folksong, traditional Chinese melodies and new works by Richard Tsang and Joby Talbot.
29 January: The King of Instruments
Organ students at Royal Holloway, Luke Saint, George Nicholls & Jamie Mark play a joint recital on the Chapel organ with a French flavour, with music by Louis Vierne, Maurice Duruflé and Jean Langlais.
5 February: Picture Gallery Composer-in-residence scheme, No. 2
Two more Royal Holloway students have written works inspired by artworks as part of their project with the music department and Picture gallery. New compositions by Sofia Garcia and Peter Bourne will be complemented with works by Thomas Tomkins, Joby Talbot and Cecilia McDowall.
12 February: Of a maiden
A programme of lullabies and hymns of praise for the Virgin Mary by composers of the 20th and 21st centuries includes music by Edmund Rubbra, Benjamin Britten and Flor Peeters, as well as Marian music by George Arthur.
19 February: Settings of George Herbert
16th century priest, poet and orator George Herbert’s writings have long caught the attention of musicians and composers. This concert includes a UK premiere of a work by Francis Pott, Kenneth Leighton’s Let all the world, and three movements from Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs.
26 February: Soulful sounds
Come and immerse yourself in the soothing sounds of music from Poland and Estonia with music by Arvo Pärt, Henryk Gorecki and Pavel Łukaszewski, performed by the choir of Choral Scholars.
4 March: Picture Gallery Composer-in-residence scheme, No. 3
Royal Holloway students Daisy Henson and Emma Pascoe have written works inspired by art in our Picture Gallery. The themes of travel are picked up and reflected in a movement from Carson Cooman's oratorio As we are changed, an excerpt from Dove's The Passing of the Year, and a setting of words of Mother Teresa by Barry Ferguson.
11 March: Music for Choir and Harp
The choir are joined once again by alumna Cecily Beer for the premiere of George Arthur's Stabat Mater, and for Paul Lewis' Four Anticke Dances.
18 March: The Founder's Choir
We welcome the Founder's Choir for their termly performance in the concert series, for a wide-ranging programme including music by Henry Purcell and Pavel Łukaszewski.
25 March: Crucifixus
For the final concert of the term, the choir look towards Holy Week and Christ's passion with two settings of the Crucifixus by Lotti and Caldara, to contrast with Kenneth Leighton's Crucifixus pro nobis.
Autumn Term 2019
2 October: O for the wings of a dove
The choir and organists explore music connected to the Temple Church
in London by Henry Walford Davies and Mendelssohn.
9 October: New Sounds – George Arthur
A premiere of a Mass and other works by contemporary British
composer George Arthur.
16 October: The German Romantics
Four motets by Bruckner, and music by Reger & Brahms.
23 October: Chamber music
The choral scholars perform a varied programme in their one‐per‐part
ensembles, interspersed with some Organ music.
30 October: Composer Profile: Benjamin Britten
This concert will feature Canticle II Abraham & Isaac, and other works.
6 November: Requiem aeternam
Please join us for a performance of Herbert Howells’ haunting Requiem.
13 November: The College Chorus – Ikons
The College Chorus perform a selection of Orthodox music by John
Tavener and Arvo Pärt, amongst others.
20 November: In the Baltics
The choir explore music from the Baltic states, with works by
Barkaukas, Dubra & Miškinis
27 November: The Founder’s Choir
The Founder’s Choir make their termly appearance in the concert
series, directed by Luke Saint.
4 December: Baroque sounds
In partnership with Prof. Stephen Rose, the choir are joined by
instrumentalists for works from across Europe.
11 December: ‘Tis the season to be jolly
Please join us for a concert of seasonal music, sacred and secular,
with plenty of opportunity to join in!
Summer Term 2019
1 May: Prière á Notre-Dame
Following the devastating fire, the Choral Scholars present a programme of music written for and inspired by Notre-Dame.
8 May: Poulenc, Ravel & Villette
Hear the choir in a programme of sumptuous 20th century French music, including a new arrangement of Ravel's Pavane.
15 May: Mass of Peace
Please join us for the UK premiere of a newly-discovered mass by Pierre Villette in a new arrangement for Organ and Choir by Rupert Gough.
22 May: Organ Recital
Join our organ scholars in a programme of music to celebrate the versatility of the Chapel's Harrison & Harrison organ.
29 May: Reformation to Restoration
The choir steps back in time to the 16th and 17th centuries and performs music by Tallis, Fayrfax and Purcell to explore the effect of the
turbulency of politics on composers in England.
5 June: Across the Atlantic
The Chapel Choir team up with the Pacific University Lutheran Chorale, from Washington for a concert of music from England and the US.
12 June: A Choral Spectacular
To round off the academic year, the choir presents a programme of favourites from the genre, including music by Bruckner, Ireland,
Stanford and Schubert.