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The Durham Singers was founded in 1972 by the late Richard Addison, who established exacting standards, and also set the
pattern for the choir's broad repertoire. He was succeeded on his retirement in 1984 by Alan Oyston, who continued that
tradition with great success over a period of 22 years. Alan himself retired from the post at the end of 2006: the
third Music Director, appointed in February 2007, is Julian Wright.
We have often collaborated with other ensembles in the North East. We have joined the Northern Sinfonia Chorus for performances
of the St Matthew Passion and the Verdi Requiem; we have also frequently performed with the Durham Sinfonia. In May 1997 we
were invited to join the northern premiere of Will Todd's The Burning Road, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Jarrow
March. We have recorded two CDs, one in our 25th jubilee year; Gloria, a CD of Christmas music, was issued five years later. A third
recording is due to be made in summer 2010.
Under our new director, we have performed Vaughan Williams' Mass in G minor (to commemorate the 200th anniversary of
Ushaw College), a concert of ceremonial music by Handel and Purcell, and new music by Paul Spicer, as well as expanding our
repertoire of lighter music. We have given a performance of Bach's St John Passion and are planning one of Brahms' Requiem in
the version with piano duet.
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