- About Us: Founded in September 2000 by a group of friends from the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, the choir comprises mainly of recent graduates and current students of Durham University, but also welcomes singers from all over the North East, and includes ... moreFounded in September 2000 by a group of friends from the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, the choir comprises mainly of recent graduates and current students of Durham University, but also welcomes singers from all over the North East, and includes many of the region’s teachers.
In May, the choir travelled to Italy to take part in the “Venezia in Musica” International Choral Competition. They won first prize in the secular music category, came runners up in the sacred music category, and received the “Outstanding Performance” prize for Bogorditsye Dyevo by Rachmaninov.
They have been awarded “Choir of the Day” at all five BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year regional rounds they have entered, and in 2008 reached the adult category finals in the Royal Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool, alongside the six other best adult choirs in the country.
As well as their regular program of concerts in Durham, the choir have performed as guests of Cleveland Philharmonic Choir, Guisborough Choral Society and Durham County Youth Choir. They performed at one of the opening concerts in The Sage, Gateshead alongside Howard Goodall, Black Voices and the BBC Chorister of the Year.
Northern Spirit Singers joined soprano Lesley Garrett on three tours, performing at venues all over the UK including Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall, and the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, and they reached a national audience when they appeared as guests on her BBC2 Christmas Day Concert.
Always open to interesting and exciting opportunities the choir have featured on BBC Songs of Praise, as carol singers alongside Pete Waterman, and performed as the backing choir for Barry Manilow at the Newcastle Arena.
The choir won the prestigious Mrs Sunderland Music Festival in Huddersfield and recorded their first CD in February 2002, followed by “There in Spirit” in 2005, “Spirited Away” in 2008 and their special birthday album “Ten” in June 2011. Northern Spirit Singers continue to perform the world’s best choral music to a high standard, in a relaxed and enjoyable manner. less - Location: Durham, United Kingdom [map]
- Since: 2000
- Voices: Mixed
- Choir type: Chamber choir
- Genres: A cappella, Classical, Sacred
- Website www.northernspiritsingers.co.uk
- Open to new singers: Yes - auditions required
